Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a naturally occurring substance mined from specific lakebed deposits. Made up of fossilized single-celled planktonic algae called diatoms, the silica-rich shells of these microscopic organisms give this chalk-like substance exceptional porosity and abrasive property. With many commercial, agricultural and household uses, DE can even play a pivotal role in the health of your backyard compost pile!
Below is a collection of consumer tested application methods in which consumers have used diatomaceous earth like our Stall Dry product to help them with their at-home composting.
Unprocessed manure and compost piles can play host to the larvae of many types of flies. Most, like the common housefly, are harmless, since they do not often bite humans or animals, or carry harmful diseases. Outside of utilizing the pest control power of backyard chickens, the potential for a build-up of potentially harmful maggots could potentially contaminate your composting efforts. A simple sprinkle of a food-grade Diatomaceous Earth-based insecticide will keep your compost pile happy.
Due to its inert nature, Diatomaceous Earth can also be used as a chemical-free deodorant for your compost pile. With smells often being caused by an abundance of wet ingredients like kitchen wastes and fallen fruit, the absorbent nature of DE will allow you to deodorize the pile making it easier to integrate its use into your day-to-day life.
As it only affects hard-bodied insects, peppering a light sprinkle of food-grade Diatomaceous Earth on the top-layer of your composting bin will allow you to manage pests and fruit-flies from your compost pile while still creating a nurturing and safe environment for your worms. Many people also find adding DE to worming compost can aid in some beneficial digesting and grinding of the food for the worms while benefiting the soil as it contains many good trace minerals.
*When using DE in your working compost be sure to use sparingly and do not mix in so that it does not pull too much moisture from the worms ecosystem.
Rodents like mice, moles, and rats can wreck your garden compost in no time, and if you don’t want to harm them, Diatomaceous Earth is here to help. Rodents hate the strong smells of essential oils like peppermint and lemon citrus and as Diatomaceous Earth is an excellent absorbent. These two ingredients can be combined to create the most potent organic rodent repellent that can keep the rodents at bay when sprinkled around the perimeter of your composting bin.
For a full list of items we suggest you add to your compost bin (in addition to DE) we have sourced a list from our customers on the blog.
Now you’re ready to compost!
Please note: Stall DRY can also be added directly to the compost to help keep down the odor and absorb any excess liquid (just be sure not to add too much Stall DRY, as you want the compost to keep a wet/dry balance).