Safe and effective, neem oil is the best treatment for pests and diseases in organic gardens. Here’s how to use neem oil.
How to Use Neem Oil in the Garden
Finding safe, non-toxic pesticides that actually work for your garden can be a challenge. We all want to protect the environment, our families and our food, but most of the “organic” products available have limited effectiveness. Neem Oil Insecticide is everything a gardener wants.
what is it?
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Neem oil comes from the tree Neem, a South Asian and Indian plant commonly found in ornamental shade. It can be extracted from most parts of the tree, but the seeds contain the highest concentration of the potent insecticidal compound azadirachtin.
This potent oil has many uses, but gardeners cheer it for its antifungal and insecticide properties.
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Uses of neem oil include treating many garden ailments:
It repels or kills many harmful insects and mites, including aphids, whiteflies, snails, nematodes, mealybugs, cabbage worms, gnats, moths, cockroaches, flies, termites, mosquitoes, and scales. While it will kill some bugs outright, it will attack the larvae of other bugs and repel plant chewers with its bitter taste.
bacteria: Neem oil is effective in preventing fungal diseases such as black spot, anthracnose, rust, and mold.
disease: As if that wasn’t enough, it also fights viruses that can harm plants.
to use it as a precaution, apply Garden Safe Neem Oil every 7 to 14 days, diluting according to package directions. If the disease is already present, apply on a 7-day schedule until the disease pressure is removed. Then, continue spraying for 14 days to prevent disease recurrence.
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to Prevent Rust Spot, Anthracnose and Scabstart applying at the first signs of budding in spring.
at last, Prevention of powdery mildew By administration in midsummer or when disease is first detected. Continue application until disease pressure is no longer present.
Important: Always follow the directions for the type of neem oil you purchase.
How to Apply Neem Oil
as a spray: Neem oil concentrate is usually mixed with water and sprayed on both sides of plant leaves. Because oil and water tend to separate, you need to keep the solution well agitated. You can also mix it with insecticidal soap for a double whammy. Neem oil is bottled in different strengths, so follow the directions on the package to get the correct ratio of oil to water.
Neem oil foliar spray has proven to be most useful when applied to growing seedlings. The oil has a half-life of 3 to 22 days in soil, but only 45 minutes to 4 days in water.
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Some plants may be killed by neem oil, especially if used in heavy doses. Test a small area on the plant and wait 24 hours before spraying the entire plant. Then, look at the leaves for any damage. If there is no damage, the plant will not be harmed by the application.
Use only in indirect light or at night to prevent the product from burning the leaves and allowing the preparation to penetrate the plants. Also, do not use the treatment in extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold. Avoid applying to plants that are stressed by drought or overwatering.
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soil drench: This insecticide is systemic when used as a soil dip in many plants. Once the product enters the plant’s vascular system, the insect ingests it during feeding. The compound causes the insects to reduce or stop feeding, can prevent larvae from maturing, and reduce or interrupt mating behavior. In some cases, the oil can coat the breathing holes of the insects and kill them.
Benefits of Neem Oil
Neem oil is a popular choice in organic gardens because it is:
- Non-toxic: Neem oil is nontoxic to beneficial garden insects such as predatory wasps, bees, earthworms, ants, spiders, ladybugs, and adult butterflies, as long as it is not sprayed directly on it. It is also considered nontoxic to humans, birds and other animals (see below) and can be used on fruits, vegetables and flowering plants.
- organic: It is plant-based and easily obtained from organically grown neem trees.
- biodegradable: It breaks down quickly and leaves no lasting residue.
Other uses
If you’re concerned about the safety of this insecticide compared to other products in your garden, consider it’s commonly used as an ingredient in:
- cosmetic
- Shampoo (including pet shampoos for flea/tick control)
- Natural Insect Repellent
- Alternative medicine treatments for antiseptics, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory agents
is it safe?
Image Source Jorg Willy from focus on
Neem oil is virtually non-toxic to birds, fish, bees, and wildlife, and studies show that its use does not cause cancer or other diseases. When applied properly, this makes it very safe to use.
The only health considerations for neem oil relate to the actual consumption of the oil, and garden use does not appear to pose any known health hazards. As with any chemical (organic or synthetic), use only in moderation when needed, and wash all vegetables and plants thoroughly before eating.
doing what you think?
Tell me, have you ever used neem oil? If so, how did it work for you?
Other resources
Material introduction: neem (Cornell University)
Azadirachta indica: A tree’s insect-proof arsenal (Colorado)
Neem Oil General Fact Sheet (National Pesticide Information Sheet)
Neem-Based Insecticides (University of Connecticut)
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