Well, I just dust the area around the stem/trunk (with my peppers for example). After dew or precipitation, re-apply. I just put my peppers in-ground, and I was liberal with the DE...got some powder on the lower leaves this time, then shook the plants so most of it fell off. We had rain yesterday, of course, which means that I'll have to add more.

Josh

I've never used DE. Is it a good preventative? What if you get it on the plant and don't shake it off? Can it be used on all veggies?

DE has silicon that plants need to form cell walls. It is beneficial, not harmful. You will notice that you use food grade which means it's edible. You can apply with a duster.
Try to avoid breathing it. It does have silica which is harmful to lung tissue. If you remember DE is the Skelton's of diatoms from the ocean. If you're concerned about the silica, remember it is also in perlite. So better stop using that too.
I myself use a larger form for a soil amendment. I don't use perlite, I use DE. But the food grade powered stuff is not good as a soil amendment. You need the larger size. It's a lot more useful than perlite. A much better amendment than perlite. I use optisorb, an oil absorbent. Many oil absorbents are clay, but Optisorb is 100% DE, in a nice larger granule.
Some info about DE
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816212001841

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0341816211001615

http://scihub.org/ABJNA/PDF/2010/5/ABJNA-1-5-1076-1089.pdf

http://www.axisplayball.com/home_htm_files/AXIS%20for%20POTTING%20SOIL.pdf

"You can apply with a duster."

Can you elaborate on this? What, like a feather duster? Can you post a pic?

Yeah that was vague! Also just to mention you don't have to shake it off plant. You don't really want to eat it, although some advocate it to remove intestinal parasites. It's safe to use on anything, just wash your food. Once applied the silica never wisps up into the air. I use gloves and mask when I mix my soil with the larger stuff, it is super dusty.
The link is a photo of various applicators.

The food grade works by piercing the exoskeleton, and dehydrating the insect, physical desiccation. It will not hurt earthworms.

Here is a link that might be useful: DE applicators

This post was edited by Drew51 on Thu, May 22, 14 at 4:35

Great link. I am thinking about buying the basic pump applicator in addition to some DE. However, being completely new, I have no idea what type to buy and how much will last one season. Any suggestions from the link below?

Here is a link that might be useful: many types of DE

I just picked up a bag of some Food Grade DE from my local garden center. Now all I need is a puffer.

Anyone use this brand?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:31807}}

No, but looks like the perfect stuff.

I'm going to buy a some empty condiment squeeze bottles from Walmart and see how those work (and the DE) before dropping any coin on a diesel-powered friggin leaf blower puffer thingie.