Neem oil is excellent for the prevention and control of several common fungal disorders, kimmsr. Ydfz, there are a few problems associated with making your own recipes with "straight " neem. The commercial product is formulated with emulsifiers and stabilizers that enable us to mix the product into a solution that is perfectly sprayable. Plus, there are DIRECTIONS on the label! No one should use something without knowing the mixing rates, precautions inherent with the product, what plants might be injured by its use, what kinds of pests or pathogens it will control, how to apply it, store it. Not only are you to likely be disappointed in the performance of your recipe, but it could be an expensive experiment. Neem won't be helpful for everything, and as with any product used as a pesticide, we should only apply as needed at the right time to get the most benefit with the least collateral damage. Fungicidal products work best as part of a balanced Integrated Pest Management program which includes plant selection for resistance, smart 'housekeeping ' practices, and maintaining the healthiest plants and soil system possible. So, tell us what kinds of plants you're wanting to protect....and from what? :-)

Hi dkgarber, Sorry about your garden; it's frustrating to see all that work just get decimated in a short while--have had that with seedlings raised for months only to be torn down by cutworms--grrr.... Japanese Beetles are out in full force in my yard--do you have those? Have you tried any traps? They work--I know people say that they just attract your neighbors' beetles, but I would rather deal with that than have neighbors use pesticides (and they'd use something heavier than Neem). Plus, I am sure that they are mostly mine because I don't use any pesticide on my soil, not even on the lawn. The traps and hand picking help out with the adults, but my gardens are pretty mature and can handle some damage from the beetles. They prefer the bayberry hedge and the meadowsweet flowers in my yard. It's too bad about the Neem, but what's done is done. If you've already sprayed, you've already sprayed and please don't stress about it. I think Neem is fairly water soluble, so with a rain it might wash off, but I don't know it affects the organisms in the soil. In the future, though, it's a good idea not to use any insecticide because a garden could have any desirable caterpillar feeding--many caterpillars are secretive and are hard to spot. For instance, goldenrod is a host plant to many moth species, not really showy. If you have Monarch butterflies now, you will have caterpillars soon--hopefully the Neem will be off by then. They may be eggs or early instars on your Milkweed. I don't know if there would be any residual Neem on the eggs and how that would impact the cats. Good luck--hope everything turns out ok. I still haven't seen any Monarchs here yet.

Well, I spayed some Neem oil diluted in water on the tomatoes and sumflowers and it seemed to stress them a little. They're still ok for the most part but some leaves are a little off color and curled. Maybe it's more than seedlings can handle. When I sprayed more mature plants with this solution it was great at taking care of some blight. When the scale was really bad, really scaley I went after both little trees with a cup of neem solution and a tooth brush. It was really amazing how much of of that junk just brushed off. Following that I gave them all a shower, and a spray of neem solution. Seems to work well to get them cleaned up and looking good. Scott

This from Beyond Pesticides (formerly National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides) ...Neem oil: Neem oil is extracted from the tropical neem tree, Azadirachta indica, contains insecticidal properties that are composed of a complex mixture of biologically active compounds. It has a strong, slightly garlic-like odor that some people describe as unpleasant. Its various active ingredients act as repellents, feeding inhibitors, egg laying deterrents, growth retardants, sterilants and direct toxins. Neem has both contact and systemic action in plants. The active ingredients biodegrade rapidly in sunlight and within a few weeks in the soil. Neem oil has very low toxicity to mammals. Clarified hydrophobic extracts of neem oil are used to control some fungal diseases of plants. In India, neem products have been used in toothpaste, pharmaceuticals, and as a grain protectant for centuries without apparent harm to humans. I can't remember which, but some US corp has patented neem oil specifically because of its low toxicity.