Pest Problems
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Natural and effective, neem oil can kill garden insects on plants. Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil that is acquired from the seeds of nim trees. It contains two important elements which serve gardeners pretty well. One of them is Azadirachtin, which is used in many store-bought pesticides.
Azadirachtin is toxic to insects, but it is biodegradable and not a threat to mammals. It affects over 200 different species of insects, acting as a growth disruptor. It stops the development of pests and sterilizes adults, so they won’t be able to lay more eggs.
Another valuable element making the neem oil spray so praised amongst gardeners is Nimbin. This compound is highly antifungal, which could be used as a treatment against parasitic fungi like powdery mildew on plants. Due to its waxy properties, the oil can easily cover and suffocate pest eggs, making it difficult to find a better solution than neem oil insecticide. But where to buy neem oil insecticide in the UK?
You will find this useful if:
When shopping for neem oil, make sure you are buying a cold-pressed product which still has Azadirachtin in it. Some of the products out on the market don’t contain Azadirachtin, so you can just use olive oil with the same success. What is the ratio of neem oil to the water?
Needed items:
Now that you have everything you need to make your neem oil spray, we can explain how to properly mix it.
Steps:
Neem oil is hydrophobic, which means it will need the help of a surfactant to dissolve in water. In our case, that would be the soap.
Give your sprayer a good shake before using your product. Spray on a small area and wait for at least 12 hours. If there is no damage to the leaves, you can proceed with treating your plants.
Spray from top to bottom, and don’t forget to coat the leaves underside. The good thing is that, unlike homemade pepper spray, this neem oil solution is not toxic to pollinators. Only insects that chew on your plants and their eggs will be affected.
Always test-spray a small area before coating every plant. And as with other plant pesticides, it is best to apply neem oil pesticide early in the morning or in the evening when the temperatures are low.
Thanks to its flawless insecticidal properties, neem oil spray is effective against a large number of garden pests.
Pests you can treat with neem oil pesticide:
Thanks to its fungicidal properties, neem oil spray is effective against:
Note that homemade pest control solutions may be effective in treating your plants; however, when it comes to home infestations, it is best to contact a professional pest controller. Some garden infestations can grow inside your home. Treating such infestations with DIY pesticides may give the critters enough time to make nests and reproduce.
Herbs such as basil, caraway, cilantro, dill, marjoram, oregano, parsley, or thyme should not be treated with neem oil. Neem oil can burn foliage on plants with delicate or wispy leaves, such as arugula, lettuce, peas, and spinach.
We can inspect your home for pests and provide the right solution!
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Have you ever tried neem oil sprays for any purpose? Was it effective? Share your experience with our reader in the comment section!
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