Garden Dust Sprayer.

[Durgan]

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?FCWDO 6 January 2012 Garden Dust Sprayer.

Garden dust Sprayer was received today and test operated using diatomaceous earth. It is advertised for powders and liquids. My use is primarily for powders. The unit was tested for operation for about ten minutes and performed to expectations. It is well made and the powder jet worked well in all orientations. It will be used during the growing season on cabbages and brussels sprouts and various garden plants as determined. Coverage appears to be possible for all areas compared to the limited hand method of dispersal. This is the one purchased. http://www.durgan.org/URL/?WZUEN Earthway Spritzer Duster Sprayer

This device worked well but the diatomaceous earth was of marginal benefit. In my opinion it didn't rise to all the anecdotal hype created in the media.

[b54red]

Those type work okay for a while but the piston and sleeve get worn and the soft washers need replacing. When they get worn enough you will get as much dust in your face as on the plants. I completely wore out 3 of them before finally getting a duster that has worked great for the last 3 years. I got an earlier version of the one shown here:http://www.planetnatural.com/site/im...u=dustin-mizer

[b54red]

I finally found a link to the duster I actually have. I was mistaken about it being an earlier version but they are very similar.
http://www.mastergardening.com/powde...st-applicator/

[Durgan]

Interesting. When I ordered last year, I compared and choose the Earthway. It is still working just fine after one year of use and certainly does a marvellous job of getting the dust into hard to access places. I was using diatomaceous earth, which I found to be useless. Anyway it gave me a "feel good attitude".

[MikeInCypress]

i Had a DustinMizer back in the '90s and it was excellent. It is about the same price today as it was 20 years ago. I recommend it highly.

MikeInCypress

[RobinB]

Has anybody tried to use one of these with diatomaceous earth on squash plants to deter squash bugs? I have heard that this helps. What do you guys think? B54, I like the sound of yours, and it's good to hear that you've had it for 3 years!

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by RobinB

Has anybody tried to use one of these with diatomaceous earth on squash plants to deter squash bugs? I have heard that this helps. What do you guys think? B54, I like the sound of yours, and it's good to hear that you've had it for 3 years!

I went crazy with spraying diatomaceous earth using the Earthway. Results zero, zilch. My four beautiful squash plants were pulled up and destroyed. I think the SVB used the diatomaceous earth as a delicious food. I did have squash bugs also, but they didn't get a chance to destroy, since the SVB got there first.

[RobinB]

Good to know. That would be my only reason to buy one of these. There's another thread specifically about squash bugs, so I don't want to hijack this thread. Thanks.

[Redbaron]

Thanks for the links Durgan and B54Red!

@Robin,
I have been using DE for years. Over those years I have found that DE works quite well against some things and is completely useless against other things. Unfortunately one of the things DE is nearly useless against is Squash bugs (Anasa tristis) or squash vine borers (Melittia cucurbitae). At least in my experience. I haven't used the products in the links, but I suspect Durgan is correct.

I love DE. I have found many creative uses for it. But unfortunately I haven't found a successful way to use it in my cucurbits.

[Durgan]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

Thanks for the links Durgan and B54Red!

@Robin,
I have been using DE for years. Over those years I have found that DE works quite well against some things and is completely useless against other things. Unfortunately one of the things DE is nearly useless against is Squash bugs (Anasa tristis) or squash vine borers (Melittia cucurbitae). At least in my experience. I haven't used the products in the links, but I suspect Durgan is correct.

I love DE. I have found many creative uses for it. But unfortunately I haven't found a successful way to use it in my cucurbits.

Elaborate. I haven't found where diatomaceous earth works on anything.

[Doug9345]

I think the criteria is whether the bug has a hard exoskeleton with joints in it. DE works by abrading holes in the bug so that it drys out. Think dragging you garden hose across a large parking lot or rocky terrain opposed to nice slippery wet grass.

[b54red]

Originally Posted by Durgan

Interesting. When I ordered last year, I compared and choose the Earthway. It is still working just fine after one year of use and certainly does a marvellous job of getting the dust into hard to access places. I was using diatomaceous earth, which I found to be useless. Anyway it gave me a "feel good attitude".

I loved mine the first year and the price was low enough to buy two so I used one for Sevin which I applied as a dust at the base of all my squash plants. That is the only thing that I have found that works on Squash Vine Borers. The problem is down here where rains can be frequent you have to reapply it frequently.

The first one that wore out was the one I used exclusively for applying Dipel. I grow two crops of broccoli, cabbage, etc. and have tomatoes for over 7 months of the year. I usually go through several bags of Dipel each year and the constant pumping wore the little washer out that kept the pressure up when applying dust. The result was when you pumped it some of the dust started coming back up the thing and into my face. After a while it was time to replace the washer and that would help for a while but it seems that the piston itself must get worn from the constant wear and eventually it would lose too much pressure to work good.

I used to grow around a hundred tomato plants and that many broccoli, cabbage and etc. up til a few years ago and that is a lot of dusting. I thought they were wonderfully simple and functional dusters and the easiest to use up til that time that I had found and for somewhat limited use they were great. I still wish I had one for applying Sevin to the stems of my squash plants; now I have to switch out the dust which is messy.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by Durgan

Elaborate. I haven't found where diatomaceous earth works on anything.

One creative way I use it is to prevent ants from farming aphids on my plants. Around the base of a plant make a thick continuous ring of DE. Then dust DE on the Aphids.

Most the aphids will die and the ants wont bring in more until the DE gets washed away or dissolved. The few remaining aphids have a high mortality from predators that can fly in, now that they no longer have ant protectors.

[Got Worms?]

I use the Dustin Mizer. Mine is at least 10 years old. I love it when I need to DE anything. It has a deflector on the business end of the tube that can be rotated in whatever direction that is needed, assuring under-leaf coverage, etc.


After I clean out my chicken tractor, I dust the inside with DE, then put down fresh litter, then dust again. I let the birds back in after the cloud dies down.


Oops, [walking back to the garden and speaking of SVBs]...once the larva? larvi?...little grub, is inside the vine, then no dust or other treatment will touch it... without plant surgery. If you see frass, then they've already done their boring.

DE works on certain insects, during certain stages of their life cycles. It's very effective on some, but only marginal on others. Don't sell it too short. Choose your weapons, pick your battles...hmm...sounds like war.
Charlie

[Durgan]

It is war. I probably am more concerned about bugs than all other issues with growing fruits and vegetables.