Used baby powder or Gold Bond powder container, any plastic jar with holes drilled in the lid, creamer jar etc. are good for this purpose. I use a Mizer Duster but I have a lot to dust but it sure is a lot easier.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mizer Duster

Have used an old wore out tee shirt too.

Shot

why do you want to put that nasty stuff on your veggies? i truly believe putting it on you veggies is just like eating it out of the bag. i believe in the organic way of addressing problems. if you are having bug problems check out the jerry baker books for help. all his ideas really do work. stay healthy!!! JOHN

i'm with strawberry on this one....don't put that poison on your crops. that stuff kills bees and ladybugs also...there are better ways to garden than using that stuff.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I haven't decided exactly what to use...and to the organic's...so far I'm organic...but I may have to decide to have a decent garden or to be organic...at any rate...it's my garden, and my decision.

RuthieG, I have both the duster and also use empty spice bottles (labels removed and having a hand made label clearly indicating contents). The reason is sometimes the duster puts out more dust than what I'd like and/or in places where I do not want the dust. The comment about killing bees is right on.. e.g. I do not want to get any dust on the squash flowers.

To organic guys, I believe you will find most folks try to be as organic as possible and use chemicals by the label, and only when measures merit. Meaning, most folks really prefer not to (AB)use chemicals.

By the way, your critical comments seem most appropriate, but only if the original post were made on the Organic Gardening forum. In this forum they seem to be a bit out of place.

Something I have not understood to date is why some prefer the dust over the liquid concentrate. The ready made stuff is usually pricey, but the concentrate should be a reasonable value compared to the dust.

What is the advantage of the dust over the liquid spray?

JustAGuy, I use both dust and concentrate. The dust works best on the stem of squash plants because it stays and as such seems to act as a deterrent. I use the 5% active (lowest concentration). Also, only a small amount need be applied. The liquid concentrate works best on tomatoes for control of stink bugs. The coverage area is a bit larger and there are hard-to-get-to places. I do not use the ready-made product.

It's very important that anyone using these chemical be educated about the possible hazards so that proper precautions can be taken. Sevin (Carbaryl) is actually a very toxic substance and applicators should be very careful about protective wear.

This is a chemical that you don't want to breathe, or get on your skin, or in your eyes.

Sevin is also one of the most lethal of chemicals for bees and for earthworms.

Yes, it is your choice to use or not use it. But, please....be safe.

Here is a link that might be useful: Click here for some info

To me it seems that the dust coats the plant and will get on the pest once it visits the plant. Applying liquid kills the pest that's already on the plant and a visiting pest moves on without getting "dusted".
As for a cheap way to apply a dust (of your choice) I find that 1/2 of a panty hose (cut from knee down to toe) works great as a stingy sprinkler/applicator. Just add 4-5 tablespoons of dust to the leg hose (concentrated in the toe) and gently shake it over the spot you want to coat. Works great for coating squash stems, broc heads, etc. An old coffee cup makes for a good hose holder for unused dust.
Applying the dust near dusk/sundown helps avoid the bees and open blossoms. But I agree, hand pick random pests if possible, use dust for all out invasions.

A wormwood spray or soapy spray will work just fine on some pests. I've found diatomaceus earth (DE) works pretty well as a last resort, and though it will kill beneficial insects too, it won't harm the frogs/toads who are natural insect-eaters in my garden.
Sevin is a very harsh chemical, over-used IMHO, and should be researched thoroughly before applying it to things you are going to eat.
Of course everyone has the choice of what to use in their own garden, but please remember, chemicals can be carried to neighboring gardens and waterways via wind, rain, etc. and do further damage than what was intended. Just my 2 cents. . .

If you don't like veggies sprayed with chemicals then you best lay off grocery store items. Saw a crop duster (airplane for you city folks) spraying a wheat field for bugs the other day. Atrazine is widely used in corn... peanuts require different types of chemicals as well as soybeans. What can you eat that are not made from these products? Cotton? Oh yeah, how do you think they get the leaves off plus keep the boll weevils out.

Shot

Shot, I'm assuming you didn't mean to imply that you eat cotton. . . :)
Seriously, though, ever heard of "organic cotton" and organic produce at a local farmer's market? That's where I get whatever veggies I don't grow myself.
It's true that chemicals are everywhere, and I'm far from being a purist, but each person can do what they can to decrease the amount, whether by purchases or practices.

Rosebush... lmao... good one. But there are lots of things made from cottonseed oil. What kinda guarantee do you have that the veggies are organic? True there is organic cotton, but there are also Roundup Ready cotton, corn & soybeans that I know of.

Shot

What is the problem for which you think you need to use Sevin or not have a decent garden? That is serious stuff. Might seem to you that you "need" it, but if you are killing your worms and bees and ladybugs and so on with it, how are you going to have a decent garden in the future? I always have a decent garden and it is all organic. Provide rich soil with lots of organic material and things will grow well. The problem with poisoning stuff with persistent and powerful chemicals is that once you disturb the balance of nature (good bugs eating bad bugs and so on, birds eating bugs, bees providing nice pollination, etc.) it is hard to get it back.

My friends that used the most chemicals had the worst bug problems because they had no birds or good bugs in their yards after years of chemical use. So bad bugs flying into their yard would breed like wildfire as nothing was eating them. As for most people wanting to use as few chemicals as possible, massive sales of herbicides and pesticides would seem to say that isn't true for many people.

Marcia

Really, pesticide use in prior years meant no birds in their yard?

I'm not into this organic or no chemicals ever gardening. I've used sevin for years in my garden, infrequently however and per directions. I still have birds and bees and other insects in abundance. The use of it has been the difference in a 'decent' garden and an abundant garden. If a gardener doesn't want to use chemicals don't use them.

This seems to be a popular debate. One which has and will go on forever. To me it boils down to follow the label, use only when situations merit, don't abuse, use precautions when applying, understand the consequences, be aware of and have knowledge of the side-effects, don't overdose, etc., etc.. (the post above by Rhizo is right on..) You know, these kinda sound like the same instructions for taking medications, which by the way are also chemicals also... far more important to follow the same instructions for the latter because these are consumed directly.... I'm assuming there are not too many folks out there who refuse to take medications because they are chemicals..

grandad,

I'm nearly one of those that doesn't want to take medications because they are chemicals. I look for "organic" solutions for health....even more so than for gardening.

Added...Patent medicines are un-natural substances. If they were natural, they could not be patented. So they make something un-natural for you to injest. Go figure. I would rather have a small amount of a chemical gardening solution than most meds.

Wayne, just so that you'd know.... I did not make my post thinking that EVERYONE believed in taking meds. Surely there are folks who believe as you do. Instead, my point wast that there seemingly folks who want to bash garden chemicals just because they are checmicals but who are at the same time OK with checmical of other kinds. Clearly you are not in this group, and maybe my above belief is not correct at all.

Most of all, I am DEFINITELY NOT going to criticize anyone for taking any action that they deem appropriate. I truely hope your approach works well for you.

Thank you grandad...you are gracious.

...and the active ingredient in sevin dust is derived from the sunflower.....how many bug riddled sunflowers have you seen? I wonder why sevin dust can't be label organic??

I am organic to the point of making and using compost to feed my plants. But when a major breakout of cuc beetles, squash bugs or SVB invade out comes the sevin. The stuff also works great on ants running the house foundation :)

I do dislike using Sevin as it can be quite harsh on the plants leafs. But in my view its lose a little or lose the entire plant. as the saying goes...a little good must go along with the bad...

->owns a Dustin Mizer..only way to fly.

CrAzY LaRrY

I got so sick of fighting bugs and worms I finally broke down and reached for the Sevin!! This happened ONLY AFTER I went to my garden and found 3 tomato plants completely eaten!! GONE!! Not a leaf left!! I live in the mid South and we have bugs!! LOTS of bugs!!! You dont walk outside without an encounter with a wasp, bee, fly,flea, no see em, chigger, nat, biting horsefly, ants (lots of ants),Mosquitoes, ticks...ect...AND IM SICK OF IT!!!!! I have TRIED going totally pesticide free!! And I have tried to find info on organic!! One person will say one thing works and the other person says it doesnt work!! I have spent more time on my computer trying to find info on it than I have spent time in my garden!! So hate me if you want to but I am tired of being eaten alive and planting a garden for the pests and worms!!
Living organic in the hot, humid South is like living in hell!! It takes all the enjoyment out of gardening! I have nightmares about insects eating me! My legs look like I have leprosy! So...the sevin dust fairy has paid my garden a visit and I have a beautiful garden again! Forget going green!! I say go white!!

And before everyone gets mad at me... you have to know me to love me. I really do have the greatest respect for all living creatures. I also try to go as organic as I possibly can. I know that Sevin dust will kill everything in the garden and I struggled and struggled with using it. But I was seriously miserable and got to where I hated going out to my garden and my greatest love is gardening. In fact, when I found the Hornworms that were responsible for eating my plants I physically pulled them off, put them in a jar and put them in my neighbors garden. (just kidding!!) I put them in a jar and placed them safely on my bird house. (just kidding again!!) I put them in the woods...far far away...and explained to them that they cant ever come back to my garden or I will personally cut off their little heads with my newly sharpened hoe. I think they understood. They were fat little boogers too!! Their droppings were the size of a tootsie roll!! But it really grossed me out pulling them off!! And I knew I couldnt kill them when they were looking up at me. So...thats another reason I use Sevin dust. I may be killing things but at least I cant see what Im am killing.

Go to tractor supply store get a powder mill works great for any kind of dust. about 20.00$

use flour as you wozld seven dust, kills grasshoppers n many other bugs. plus its safe..

Soshagirl, this appears to be your first post. I think some might disagree with it, do you have any facts to back it up?

I've seen that strategy written up on gardening websites. Allegedly, it does work for grasshoppers. Of course, lots of pantry-pest insects will eat flour handily. Also, wet flour will eventually get moldy. I suspect it may just introduce other problems.

I have squash bugs that are absolutely destroying my pumpkin plants. I see the recommendations not to use insecticides, but what can I use instead? I have very little time due to how severely my plant is being damaged, could completely die within a couple days.

The concept of integrated pest management works best. First, design and organize your garden so the plants are growing under the best conditions, that includes air space, light, moisture, good soil, the right nutrients, and companion planting to make your plants harder for bugs to find. Check regularly for problems. Spot treat small problems, which helps prevent them from becoming big ones. There are preventative bug nematodes, disease and beneficial fungus that can help too. I've used Sevin sparingly too. Not as a preventative though. My worst problem was japanese bettles. Sevin is supposed to help but it was only marginally effective. The best cure was to treat my yard with milky spore and nematodes, each spring and fall for a couple years as a preventative. That kept the numbers down to a manageable level so that one light sevin dusting for my peach tree and rose bush and a some hand picking was all it took to completely eradicate the problem this year and save my plants, they look great. Avoid over fertilizing like the plague, that makes the foliage extra attractive to pests, it's weak and tasty to them. Fertilize at the right level and right mix for the time of year. That's the secret to a great looking garden.