Diatomaceous earth used in pool filters is not the same as regular
diatomaceous earth, and it should not be used in the garden. It has been
heat treated and does not have the same properties as the regular powdered
kind. On the other hand, regular D-E (diatomaceous earth) is useful .
Diatomaceous earth is useless when wet, and is effective only when dry. I'm
doubtful that diatomaceous earth control grub worms, however beneficial
nematodes are very effective and will control grub worms as well as fleas.
They can be ordered easily either mail order or from many online sources and
are applied using a hose-end sprayer. They should be applied either in the
cool of the morning or late evening.
"Mike" wrote in message
oups.com...

Him wrote:
Hello group - thanks in advance for your opinions.

I am in zone 6 so my gardening days are about 3 weeks or so away I guess.
Starting three years and worse the past two years I have had what I think
is
vine bore bugs totally destroy my cucumbers and squash plants. I tried
moving them to a different part of the garden but I only have a 12 x 20
plot
to work with so it didn't seem to help.

Do these bugs live in the dirt from year to year? How do I get rid of
them?
.... is there an additive I can till into the soil not before spring
planting? ....

If I can't find something I trust to work I am not even going to plant
cucs
and squash this year but I will alas miss them.

Also, my garden results seem to have gone down every year for the past
several despite more work .... how do I best prepare my soil?

Last year I got the best results in soem case the only results from
leftover
plants that I stuck in old flower pots.

Any advice welcome ..... thanks ...

Hi Him.... remember high school biology? Diatoms? Small shell creatures
that live in the sea. Diatom-aceous earth is made from those shells. They
are grouned so fine , that when you put your hand through it, it is softer
than talcum powder.

You can buy Diatomaceous earth at a discount chain, or in the Pool
Supplies store, because they also use diatomaceous earth for pool
filters. I bought mine at Home Depot for $10.00 a 10 pound bag which
will last you forever because it's used very sparingly.

Sprinkle it, using a small sieve, around the base of those plants that
need it. Or sprinkle it in the earth before planting.. gently as if
dusting a cake with powdered sugar.

Try not to get it on open blossoms for obvious reasons...though it
probably wouldn't kill you.

Under a microscope, this talcum-like powder looks like jagged glass
shards,,,,,,that's what kills the bad little bugs! I put just a tiny
drop on a grub and he started writhing. I put it out of its misery
immediately...(I'm afraid to pul a carrot out of the ground, lest it
pain the carrot).

Try it...of all the folks to whom I recommended this, every one raved
about it. I had an infestation; over the winter I dusted every single
row and watered it in. You should turn it over before dusting. By
spring - NOT ONE single GRUB!

Good luck
Mike