Thankfully having a new build means that my weed problem is minimal. I only resort to painting dandelions between the brick paving, with weedkiller if they grow again after being pulled up. I'm even careful about any plants I buy being weed free as the last thing I want is to bring in land cress, the bane of my life previously. I do intend to try to get rid of my sawfly infestation. I can't think of anything they do which is useful. They don't even provide food fo birds when they conceal themselves inside leaves.
I use it as soon as growth starts in April and I drench the foliage. Any spare solution goes onto the soil below as the earthworms are supposed to love it. I repeat spray every few weeks.
Neem is best used preventatively .... but will work on pests that have already arrived. It does not hurt beneficial insects. Only chewing and sucking insects are affected. The main reason is that insects need to ingest the neem oil to be affected, and beneficial insects don't eat your plants. However, you can still kill beneficial insects if you smother them with neem oil, so I tend to spray late evening to be safe.
It does stink a bit ... but is easy to mix up and apply.
I got mine off ebay .... wasn't expensive for a big bottle which will last ages. At room temperature it is solid, but goes liquid again within a couple of hours in the airing cupboard.
Worth a try.
Bee x
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Hello @Bee witched Thank you so much for your advice. I can't think that I've heard of neem oil but it sounds to be just the job. I was looking for something like tar wash but different - the kind of thing you could spray when things are dormant aka fruit trees (which I sadly no longer have). It's soul destroying to nurture a lovely garden only to see it become the local insect restaurant. We no longer have grass due to everyone around us, us included, being infested with leather jackets then daddy long legs! I never thought that I'd see an end to aphids but washing up liquid, then ladybirds (still have those) and this year sparrows have dealt with them entirely. There's no eat out to help out offers in my garden!!! And by the way @Fairygirl, how I agree.....
I have read many good reports of neem oil over the years, but not used it myself. It works by glueing the insects in place. They can't move or breathe so they die. Definitely worth a go and as Bee says, completely organic and harmless (unless you're a stuck insect!)
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Hello @Bee witched Haven't many slugs, a few snails, but I use them to feed the birds when I catch them! Sorry snail lovers, but the birds are more valuable as aphid killers. I'm now off to see if the garden centre has some neem oil. Joyx
There are sprays based on Pyrethrum, or on rape seed oil both of which are plant derived and only work on contact. Like the neem oil it smothers them so they can't breath, but it has to be in direct contact. Unfortunately although they are considered organic they are not selective so will kill the "good guys" as well as the bad if they are in contact. Neither leave a residue so are safe after they have dried.
Just back from shopping. Nothing doing at the garden centre but have found neem oil at Holland and Barrett. Its intended for massage and can be used to remove make up so isn't dangerous and is pure oil. I'm of the mind 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'. If there are any other suggestions please add them. I'm so grateful that so many of you have helped. I'll keep you informed as to the results.
Posts
Try using a spray of diluted neem oil .... it is totally organic and is derived by pressing the seed kernels of the neem tree.
I use it for lily beetles and sawfly on gooseberries / solomons seal and aruncus ... and it should also work for roses.
See this link for further info.
https://www.discoverneem.com/neem-oil-insecticide.html
and this one for how to make it.
http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-insect-spray.html
I use it as soon as growth starts in April and I drench the foliage. Any spare solution goes onto the soil below as the earthworms are supposed to love it. I repeat spray every few weeks.
Neem is best used preventatively .... but will work on pests that have already arrived. It does not hurt beneficial insects. Only chewing and sucking insects are affected. The main reason is that insects need to ingest the neem oil to be affected, and beneficial insects don't eat your plants. However, you can still kill beneficial insects if you smother them with neem oil, so I tend to spray late evening to be safe.
It does stink a bit ... but is easy to mix up and apply.
I got mine off ebay .... wasn't expensive for a big bottle which will last ages. At room temperature it is solid, but goes liquid again within a couple of hours in the airing cupboard.
Worth a try.
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
It works by glueing the insects in place. They can't move or breathe so they die.
Definitely worth a go and as Bee says, completely organic and harmless (unless you're a stuck insect!)
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Worth you trying the neem .... it makes the leaves unpalatable to anything that might chew them.
Just wish it worked on slugs
Good luck,
Bee x
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime