In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Diatomaceous earth

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Ohio dave, Jun 30, 2022.

  1. Ohio dave

    Ohio dave

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    I have heard spreading under pallets before stacking the wood will help keep insects out. Has anyone tried it?
     
  2. Sawdust Man

    Sawdust Man

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    Ain't tried it myself, but it's sposta be great for keeping bugs away from stuff.
     
  3. Ralphie Boy

    Ralphie Boy

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    I put it down on my covered porch before I install burn season racks and wood. Kentucky winters can have days, even a week or 2, of bug waking, warm weather. I've never seen a bug. But like they say : "Correlation does not prove causation."
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2022
  4. Sirchopsalot

    Sirchopsalot

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    For a couple stacks, and hauzens, I dusted them as I built them. Im not sure if it made a difference, as the wood stays farther from the house till November, and only a day or two at a time comes in.
    I put up 9+ cord last year, 4+ for myself, and 4+ for a friend, and didnt dust any of it.
    Perhaps as Ralphie says, putting it on the ground when we do bring wood up might be a good idea.
     
  5. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    It should work but I've never done it.
     
  6. The Wood Wolverine

    The Wood Wolverine

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    Hmm. We used to mix it in with our chickens food. Never heard the bug thing.
     
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  7. Ralphie Boy

    Ralphie Boy

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    It has many uses including killing any bug with an exoskeleton, ants, roaches and a thousand other creepy crawlies.
     
  8. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    If it is being put down, say for ants, does it need to be in an area where the DE stays dry...does that matter? And how heavily does it need to be put down? Sprinkled like Sevin dust?
     
  9. Ralphie Boy

    Ralphie Boy

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    I can't say for sure because my porch is covered and gets very little rain on it.
    That's it, about like Sevin.
     
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  10. Wishlist

    Wishlist

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    I seen some in the local hardware store the other day , crazy expensive . I use around 100 lbs a year of food grade DE for the maple syrup press and cost are about $40 for a 50lb bag .
    I throw it out after use but was told to sprinkle it around to keep insects out . Never tried it tho .
     
  11. Geoff C

    Geoff C

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    it has to be dry to work. If you look at it under a microscope it looks like metal shards. When the bug walks through the powder it cuts into them and they dry up.
     
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  12. Ohio dave

    Ohio dave

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    I wonder if the stuff they use in swimming pools is cheaper because its not food grade