Here in central Pennsylvania dry weather has caused an increase in pest pressure particularly piercing-sucking insects such as White Fly, Leafhoppers, and even some grasshoppers. This past week I found these pests in just about of all my newly planted shrubs (early June 2020) including Yellow Twig Dogwood, Golden Cypress, Weigela, PJM Rhododendron, Dwarf Alberta Spruce and Emerald Green ‘Smaraged’.
Our community is a new neighborhood with many “young” families who have children and pets. The homes offer a new sleek modern design built on small lots that back into meadow and a wooded parcel that makes a great habitat for pollinators, natural predators, birds, bats and other wildlife. It is an idyllic setting for our thriving community; hence, I am very conscientious when applying a pesticide and the primary reason why I choose a naturally occurring pesticide like 70% neem oil.
Neem oil: The Preferred Choice for the Situation:
Neem oil is a broad-spectrum insecticide, miticide, and fungicide that is derived from the oil of neem seeds. The oil is further purified, processed and formulated to make a user-friendly sprayable solution often referred to as 70% extract of neem oil. Neem oil offers the same suffocating and knockdown properties as traditional plant or petroleum-based oils but also contains naturally occurring limonoids that offer additional protection including repellency.
Although my target this past week was piercing-sucking insects such as White Fly and Leafhoppers, neem oil offers additional protection against mites and fungal diseases. I did not detect any diseases in my landscape but the persistence of hot dry weather could possibly bring on mites. Of course, the Dwarf Alberta Spruce that anchors the front of my landscape is a “mite magnet” (even in mild winters); I thought a preventative spray was in order.
My experience:
Since the temperature hovered around 85 degrees F during the afternoon I chose to spray after 8:00 PM EST and not during the heat of the day. By this time in the evening the temperatures were in the low 70’s. Pollinator activity is also at a low during the evening hours and the sun’s angle allows me to better visualize my spray pattern. The wind is also down at this time of the evening. Spraying in the evening is my personal preference and one that has been influenced by my high school and college years working in a small nursery near Pittsburgh, PA.
- Neem oil Brand: Triple Action Neem Oil from Southern Ag.
- Rate: Mixed 1.5 oz of Triple-Action Neem Oil/gallon of water to make a ~ 1.5% solution
- Sprayer: Lesco 4-gallon back-pack sprayer with manual pump; hollow cone nozzle
- Spray Technique: Treat to cover foliage, avoid run-off, making sure to cover the underside of the leaves where most of these pests reside.
- Frequency: Every 7-10 days or when pest pressure warrants spraying.
I chose Triple Action Plus since I could readily find it at the local Home Depot. Several other neem oil brands can also be found at your local garden center or hardware store.
RTS = Ready-to Spray/Hose-End RTU= Ready-to-Use (already diluted) Conc= Concentrate (requires mixing with water)
- 70% Neem Oil RTS
- Monterey Neem Oil RTU
- Garden Safe Neem Oil Extract (Conc/RTS)
- Natria Neem Oil (Conc)
- Natural Guard Neem Insecticide, Fungicide, Miticide (Conc/RTU)
- Garden Safe Fungicide 3 in 1 (Conc/RTU/RTS)
- Neem Oil (Conc)
- 70% Neem Oil (Conc)
- Safer Neem Oil (Conc)