How to Use Neem Oil in the Garden
$30
10 Minutes
Easy
There are a few things one can do to fight pests in the garden. In this post, I am going to concentrate on one simple, organic solution… Because I am all about simple, man.
That one thing is Neem Oil Extract.
The stuff is stinky but it kills the bugs all right.
What is Neem Oil?
Neem oil is pressed from the fruit and the seed of the neem tree which is native to India.
It has a strong odor, which is probably one of the reasons it’s so good at repelling insects. It can change in color a bit from golden yellow to dark or reddish brown.
Neem oil uses are not limited to the garden alone. It's used in preparing cosmetics, and in traditional Ayurvedic medicine (mostly for skin diseases, fever, and inflammation).
You can use Neem Oil as natural Insecticide and Miticide in the garden.
One of the many components of neem oil is called Azadirachtin. It acts as a repellent and reduces the ability of insects to feed. It also interferes with their hormones and makes it harder for them to make and lay eggs.
In the picture above is a Japanese beetle I found in the garden a few days after spraying. Compare it to the first Japanese beetle picture from before. Do you see how its head is totally ruined?
Use Neem Oil as Fungicide
Neem oil is also supposed to be very helpful against root rot, black spots, mildew and scab, fungi, and mold. It can also be used to control bacterial diseases like fire blight.
Above is a picture of root rot on one of my pumpkin plants. This is from a few weeks ago before I found the beetles and started spraying neem oil. I guess next year I’ll spray my pumpkin plants right from the beginning even if I don’t see the bugs just to control rot and other fungi.
**For more pictures of my personal experience (I had a nasty experience with Colorado potato beetles) and to learn how to apply neem oil in the garden, head over to the blog by clicking on the link bellow.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
Comments
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Need to make sure the Neem Oil concentrate is 100% Neem Oil as some brands have other additives. Neem Oil is not selective as an insecticide, so please identify the insects first to make sure you're not harming beneficial insects. Also, Neem Oil can be used as a systemic treatment which sometimes is a better option especially for fungus or bacterial problems.
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Should be cold pressed
Frequently asked questions
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Is this neem oil the same oil that you use for softening leather?