Has anyone used Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth on there lawn, pets, garden to control ticks? Does this really kill ticks?
Looking for ways to keep ticks down in the yard..I don't have deer, since I'm fenced in, but dam mice,squirrels and chipmonks I beleive are bringing ticks in. ugggh Posted by 17hens (Member # 23747) on :
yes, diatomaceous earth is actually crushed fossils which cuts insects and dries them out.
it will kill ticks (and other insects) in about 2 days if i remember correctly.
safe to rub on your skin, sprinkle on plants/grass/bushes
safe to ingest (some eat it) but not safe to breath in so you should wear a mask when sprinkling it outside.
will need to be reapplied after rain.
Posted by Heleneh (Member # 21207) on :
There is human grade diatomaceous earth. I wonder if anybody has taken it for lyme and coinfections and what effect it had on killing these parasites.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
quote:Originally posted by Heleneh: There is human grade diatomaceous earth. I wonder if anybody has taken it for lyme and coinfections and what effect it had on killing these parasites.
The Lyme bacteria live in the nerve cells in the body. When you eat diatomaceous earth, it only passes through the alimentary canal, the gut.
From what I've read, diatomaceous earth does kill parasites in the gut.
Plus some of the silica in it gets absorbed, and this is beneficial to the joints and tissues.
Carol
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Heleneh: There is human grade diatomaceous earth. I wonder if anybody has taken it for lyme and coinfections and what effect it had on killing these parasites.
I've taken it before. Not sure if it did anything for me or not!!
My niece had a flea infestation in her new/used home this summer and the DE was one of the major plans of attack they used.
Posted by ConnieMc (Member # 191) on :
My experience in general with this is stuff was not positive.
2 summers ago I tried organic gardening. Someone told me diatomaceous earth would kill all garden bugs. I purchased a big bag from a good, reliable source. And read up on it in organic gardening books.
Sorry, but although I used it as directed, very frequently, my garden was eaten alive and I would be surprised if it killed anything at all.
If it didn't kill run-of-the-mill garden bugs, I just can't see how it can possibly kill ticks. It is supposed to literally make small cuts in the shell of the bug causing it to dry out and die.
If it doesn't seem to have an impact at all on worms, aphids, and many other soft bugs, how the heck can it possibly kill a tick?
I was disappointed, and had to go back to good old Sevin dust to get edible broccolli, etc.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Someone said they were using TKO Orange, also known as Orange Guard, to keep animals away from the yard. Means basically spraying. It's biodegradable, so would have to be done frequently. I haven't done this myself, just heard about it.
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