I have never seen it claimed anywhere that Neem kills anything on contact. It is effective against many types of insects, including LEAF MINERS!! Here is some accurate information put out by Cornell Cooporative Extension on Neem, how it works and what it is effective against - Neem oil. Another group of neem products is made from the oil fraction of neem extract. The active ingredient is generally listed as "clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil," and is labeled as a fungicide, insecticide, and/or miticide. Insects and mites susceptible to paraffinic (petroleum-derived) horticultural oil are likely to be controlled to some extent by neem oil products. The mode of action is probably similar to other oils, namely membrane or cuticle Every effort has been made to provide correct, complete, and up-to-date pesticide recommendations. Nevertheless, changes in pesticide regulations occur constantly, and human errors are still possible. These recommendations are not a substitute for pesticide labeling. Please read the label before applying any pesticide. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Cornell Cooperative Extension is implied. This document is a product of the Landscape Horticulture Program Work Team at Cornell University. Primary contributors include Paul Weston, Department of Entomology and Dan Gilrein, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County. Prepared June, 2007 disruption and/or interference with respiration. Note that the activity is distinct from that of azadiractin-based insecticides. Other neem products. In addition to products based on azadirachtin or neem oil, there are also other pesticides derived from neem. One such product, K+ Neem, is an insecticidal soap made from neem oil, listed on the label as potassium salts of fatty acids. Mode of action (membrane disruption) and efficacy against arthropods is probably similar to that of other insecticidal soaps since the product has no measurable quantities of azadirachtin. What does neem control? Although neem has a fairly broad spectrum of activity against insects, some insects are more susceptible than others, and results often vary from pest to pest. Many leaf-feeding larvae are susceptible to azadirachtin-based products; this list includes lepidopterous larvae (caterpillars), leaffeeding beetle larvae, and sawflies. [NOTE: we have not seen significant efficacy against viburnum leaf beetle larvae.] Fluid-feeding insects such as aphids, leafhoppers, and plant bugs are also fairly well controlled by products based on azadirachtin, as are dipterous leaf miners and fungus gnats. Adults of a number of insect groups are also responsive to azadirachtin; Japanese beetles and grasshoppers reportedly avoid neem-treated foliage. Neem-oil products are reportedly effective against aphids, whiteflies, scale crawlers, and spider mites. Neem products are generally not effective against mealybugs, weevils, thrips, or adult scales. Use of neem products against pests not on the label is not advisable because efficacy against these pests has not been determined (or is inadequate), not to mention the fact that such uses are illegal in New York. Here is more info from another reliable website - How Neem Oil Works: According to the EPA, "Azadirachtin and Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil are derived from the natural oil found in seeds of the neem tree.... When the natural neem oil is removed from the seeds and treated with alcohol, virtually all of the azadirachtin and related substances separate from the oil itself. The remaining oil - without the azadirachtin - is called Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil. Azadirachtin acts in the following ways: It deters certain insects, such as locusts, from feeding and it interferes with the normal life cycle of insects, including feeding, molting, mating, and egg laying." Neem Oil As Organic Insecticide: Pests Killed or Repelled: Neem oil kills some pests (after they've eaten leaves sprayed with neem oil), while it repels others with its strong smell. Neem oil is used to control many pests, including whitefly, aphids, Japanese beetles, moth larvae, scale and spider mites. Because it kills mites -- which aren't insects but, instead, related to spiders and ticks -- neem oil is listed as a "miticide." Sprays containing clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil are also used as fungicides against rust, black spot, mildew, leaf spot, scab, anthracnose, blight and botrytis. Benefits of Neem Oil for Pest Control: Besides being an organic insecticide, using neem oil allows you to target pests, specifically, as opposed to beneficial insects (e.g., bees and lady bugs). By definition, "pests" are the insects eating your plants, and neem oil, properly applied, kills an insect only if it ingests the sprayed foliage (bees and lady bugs don't eat plant leaves). Ron The Garden Guy http://www.TheGardenGuy.org Informative articles, ongoing garden journal and interactive message boards.

I am haveing the same problem with my leaves wilting on my Korean spice viburnum looks like the picture from kinberlul from Virginia we water but not excessivley can you help

Kimberlul, You can't delete a post (sure wish ya could, sometimes). You can link the two posts together by supplying a link to the other post at the bottom of one or both posts, if you think that would be of any help. In other words, you could say, "see other post" and then provide the link to that post. When you want to add pictures, just post them on an image hosting site and then embed them into the text here. Email me if you don't know how to do that, and I'll send you instructions (if you want). You need to check your soil's moisture level at about an inch or two deep (use your finger and stick it down into the dirt) to see if your plants need water until you get familiar with your soil and can predict water needs. Don't assume you are watering too much (although it sounds very possible). Pruning them is probably one of the worst things you could do for them. Imagine having one of your teeth pulled because you had an upset stomach. It wouldn't be the best way to attack the problem!

Crap! I hadn't read AS much about the borer so I didn't think it was as much of an issue. I've got to look that up. I had read about the leaf-thickness thing as far as being resistant to vlb's but I haven't found a source that tells me about how they all compare in that regard...plus I have to do all my plant shopping online, or I guess that nurseries would be able to tell me that stuff. Koreanspice, I have read, is really slow-growing (brain wanders off into fantasy of what it would be like to have long summers and a little less fricking cold...back now...heavy sigh) and Blackhaw a little big but Emerald Triumph was definitely on my list along with Mohican for berries, so maybe I will go back to those guys. I know I don't have much time left but I read about how good October is for shrub-planting in our area...and I want them to take off asap in spring. But, holy crap, looking out the window today it looks more like November! Yuck.