Choosing natural over chemical is always better, especially when it comes to gardening. Neem oil is one of these natural oils used for pest control. It acts as a natural pesticide and is extracted from the Neem seeds. The Neem oil has insecticidal as well as anti microbial properties that makes it a popular alternative to treat mites, aphids, and fungus in plants.
Here are 25 best ways to use Neem Oil!
1. Neem oil helps in controlling nematodes
Microscopic worms, found in the soil are extremely destructive for plants in any garden. Neem oil works like a medicine on these worms as it prevents larvae from hatching and therefore, controls the population and destroys them.
2. Control lawn grubs with Neem oil
Neem oil is the best when it comes to destroying and preventing these lawn grubs. These larvae lie hidden under the soil and slowly consume the tender grass roots. Not only Neem oil helps in repelling the larvae away from the grass roots, it also prevents these from laying eggs.
3. Neem oil is safe for animals
Forget about using chemical pesticides as they might harm your wildlife and animals. Using neem oil is completely safe and harmless for them!It is so safe that you can spray it around in your garden without harming any pets or other wild life that may visit your garden like rabbits and deer.
4. It Kills eggs, larvae and adult insects
Neem oil helps in killing not just adults, but eggs as well as larvae. Neem oil also creates a reaction in which the insects stop eating the leaves of plants and trees. Also, if the Neem oil is sprayed at any stage of insect development, it will prevent the insect from developing further.
5. Neem oil is used as a dormant oil spray
It is effective in killing overwinter pests as well as those that are in their growing stages, so use neem oil for aphids, spider mites, tent caterpillars, leaf-hoppers and many more during the dormant period and the growing season as well.
6. Use Neem oil as a safe fungicide
Buy some cold pressed Neem oil which must be added to a solution of warm water and soap. Mix the solution nicely. Pour the solution in the sprayer and use it directly on plants affected with any disease. The positive result will come in no time!
7. Neem oil helps in protecting vegetables from insects and fungus
Both morning and evening are perfect times for Neem oil spraying. Neem oil will successfully protect vegetables from corn ear-worms, aphids and mites, but it also offers protection against fungal growth like leaf and black spots, scab, mildew, stem rot as well as rusts.
8. Use Neem oil for protecting herbs
Before you spray Neem oil on your precious herbs, make sure that your delicate herbs can withstand the oil.
9. Neem oil does not create dead zones
Neem oil affects only such bugs and fungus that harm your plants and herbs. Other insects that benefit the plants don’t get bothered at all.
10. Use Neem oil as its organic
Neem oil is organic and biodegradable, and it is completely safe for your pets as well as other beneficial insects that help in pollination. Use Neem oil for pest control in gardening to control fungal growth as well as kill aphids and mites.
11. Neem oil creates nausea in caterpillars
Caterpillars cause lot of harm to our garden as they chomp away tender leaves at a fast pace. When Neem oil is applied on leaves it creates a sensation that is nausea like among these insects, and forces them not to consume. They tend to develop an aversion to consuming leaves and wither away.
12. Helpful in killing more than 200 species of insects
Some of these insects include: scale, leaf-hoppers, aphids, mealybugs and mites.
13. Neem oil is not harmful to earthworms
Neem oil is safe for earthworms as they are beneficial for gardening. The dead bodies of earthworms help in nourishing the soil with extra nitrogen as well as potassium. Neem oil, in-fact encourages these worms to grow and propagate.
14. It helps in keeping your garden free of mosquitoes
An insecticide of Neem oil is safe for humans, but will deter mosquitoes from bothering you when you spray it in and around your garden.
15. You can prepare a large number of Neem oil formulas
There are a lot of Neem oil formulas you can use in the garden. If you want a soap based Neem oil formula, you can get one that has insecticidal soap in it’s composition. Otherwise, you can also buy Neem oil granules or concentrates for garden use.
16. Its simple to use Neem oil
Even kids can use Neem oil and spray it on the plants. Simply, mix the content in water and pour it in a sprayer. Then, spray on plants. This is not all. Neem oil can be used even when your plants are ready for harvest.
17. Protect your fruit trees with Neem oil
By using Neem oil, you can get rid of these irritating insects and protect your apple tree from getting infested. Spray your berry bushes too with Neem oil pesticide before their blooms blossom.
18. Keep butterflies and ladybugs safe with Neem oil
Neem oil is hazardous to plant chomper pests like aphids, mites, and leaf-hoppers, but is totally safe for bees, butterflies and ladybugs!
19. Neem oil is safe for use in a greenhouse
No worries! You can use this oil in your greenhouse too! You can easily get rid of these frisky pests by using biodegradable and safe Neem oil. Use this oil and its various concentrations for eliminating insects.
20. Helps in killing fire blight
Neem oil helps in preventing the growth of this deadly bacterial disease. Simply, spray the oil when the tree is dormant and is not blooming or harvesting.
21. Make Neem cake pesticides for better fertilization
If you want your garden soil to have good amounts of nitrogen content and want to get rid of grubs and nematodes, then Neem oil is your answer.
22. Keeps your nut trees safe
By applying the Neem oil spray directly on these insects, you will prevent web-worms to build nests in the gaps of branches, and it is possible that you will kill them.
23. It can be used repeatedly
Unlike other chemical pesticides, Neem oil pesticide is one that doesn’t make pests immune to it, so keep using it whenever you need to.
24. Neem oil does not cause water pollution
Again, chemical pesticides will pollute the water, Neem oil, however, doesn’t pollute water. It is absolutely safe to be applied to the garden soil or plants.
25. Neem oil is safe for indoor plants
Buy a Neem oil concentration and mix it with water as instructed. Pour the solution in a spray bottle and then, spray directly on leaves. Spray it on your plants’ leaves and see them benefit from it in no time!