It works really well for both if you can use it as a barrier around each plant but I really like it in the tender tops to control earwigs.
You do have to reapply it after a rain though.

Thanks Ruth Ann. So, if I was to use this on potted brugs that I water every day, do you think I'd have to re-apply it every day after I water?

I use DE all the time. Especially on my hosta to keep the slugs away. It does a great job and I'm sure you will really like it. Here is a great link about DE....I think I'm going to start putting it around the house in some places. It works for ants and spiders too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hope this helps....

You can use DE or bury a small container with beer in it. Slugs love beer and they drown when they go to drink. I mainly do it after heavy rains and they collect slugs like crazy.
Cookie

Yes you would after watering have to reapply it but make a circle with it close to the trunk, you use less that way.
I get mine in a large container transfer some to fill a cleaned salad dressing bottle that has the nice holed stopper in the top, pop the stopper back in and you can direct it's application better with less waste too.

Thanks for all of your answers. I havn't had time to get on here in a while.

Cookie, I've tried the beer before. It just kills me to waste good beer on slugs!!!

I think I'll try some of the DE. I saw it fairly cheap on Ebay last time I looked there. Thanks for the tip on the salad dressing container Ruth Ann. I'm going to try that.

I have yet to find a discerning slug, the cheapest beer you can buy works as well as the specialty ones LOL. ;-)

I read that Diatamaceous Earth is harmless to all animals, including humans. Then I read that you must wear gloves, long sleeved shirts, etc., because it is like tiny shards of glass. Are there two different types? If so, which one kills snails and slugs?

I've been using DE for slug control for a number of years. I used to use the same stuff that we used in our pool filter which worked fine. I was recently told that the DE for pools was dangerous so now I use the kind that's made for gardening. I really don't know what the difference is aside from the cost (the pool kind is cheap) but I didn't want to take any risk.
Karyn

My understanding was to apply it on a still day and be sure none of it blows on you. Once applied, it is supposed to be fine, and safe for pets and plants. I don't know where you would order it online, but I do know that since it does not have any chemicals w/ it, it's not available in my area. Good luck, Brandy

Does anyone know why you aren't supposed to use the DE that's used for pool filters? I wonder if there really is a difference? The stuff we use in the filter is pure DE as far as I know and it's certainly a lot cheaper then the kind I get at the nursery. The only drawback I've found with it is that it has to be reapplied often.
Karyn

When I couldn't find DE - I used something called Dead Ring or Dead stop - something like that. Wasn't attractive to pets, and such. Put a small ring around the bottom of your plant shoot and it kills slugs and or snails. Had S & S that were so huge - used to block a DOOR from closing when one got in the crack. Eeesh. . .yucky slimey. . .

And when I couldn't find that - in a pinch, I used a very THIN salt ring. Not alot because you don't want that building up in the soil. But boy does it work.

That's not something you ever want to see - what happens to a slug when it comes in contact with salt. . . .

Karyn, The DE for pools is heated which changes it to crystalline form (the kind that causes silicosis). That is supposed to make it better able to filter dirt out of your pool water. We don't care about filtering, we just want the little buggers dead. lol I would not use the pool kind because every time you stir up the air around your plants such as moving them to check leaves or a fan on them, you would be breathing it in. I use the regular kind on my carpets & dogs for fleas. It feels like talcum powder (without the nice scent) & really dries your hands out but it doesn't cut you or anything like that. I'm allergic to a lot of things but this didn't bother me.

Veseys sells it, it is about $10.00

Thank you for the explanation of the difference Napdognewfie. I guess I definitely don't want to be breathing in the stuff from the pool filter!
Karyn

Another old thread brought back to life! I ended up buying the stuff off ebay way back when, and it was in a bag with no writing so I couldn't tell you now which grade it was. I guess at the time I must have known it'd be safe in the garden (and for us). It did not work on the slugs and snails at all that year. But strangely enough, I havn't had a problem with them in the last 2 years, and havn't used any since '05.