How to Use NEEM OIL for Scale and Aphid Control || Black Gumbo

[@GardenerScott]

Good video, Scott. I had success using rubbing alcohol for scale on a lemon tree, in addition to neem oil. A little on a Q-tip applied to the scale avoided damaging the plant.

[@cimado64]

Hey there! I have used Neem oil for years here in San Antonio. I have learned if I use in the daytime, my leaves will burn. So, I brave the mosquitos in the evening and spray my plants being careful not to get the flowers for the bees sake. Then I go out early before the sun is completely up and hose everything down. This has worked pretty well on everything except for the SVB. They’re the devil. Love your videos!

[@MalaysianTropikfusion]

What's an SVB, if you don't mind me asking?

[@b.mariejarreau828]

Squash Vine Borer ???? Maybe?

[@Aquitania007]

I bought the same neem oil you were using; I was so frustrated with awful orange aphids on my butterfly plants that were attempting to survive their 2nd year. So gross and btw I'd NEVER seen orange aphids with black legs. I sprayed everything in sight, including my tomatoes and roses. I am impatient. I thought the solution didn't work because the next day there were still aphids, dead and alive on my plants; however on the 2nd day all attackers were gone. It's been a week and all of my plants are critter free. Thanks for the video, a great help for sure. BTW I just came across your video about Phoebe. So sorry she had such issues! Think I told you we are on corgi #6 and I wish we had more, I adore them, they have been my constant companions since 1982. My mom had one as well when I was a teen in the islands. God is good; there are still people out there in these challenging times who still believe in the values I, at least grew up believing, and they are caring and generous. I kiss Howie each night. (short for Hell On Wheels, which he was when we rescued him in 2019) He was a 2 time throw away and was only 1-1/2 years old! He still gets upset if one of us is missing from the house for any length of time, poor guy, but he is a ball of fire!

[@ScottHead]

LOL, yeah Corgi's are great. I'd love to have more of them but Phoebe keeps me busy enough.

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

I've never seen the citrus scale pest (ugh, so sorry) - but plenty of aphids and other 'chewing/sucking" pests. Thanks for pointing our the correct kind of NEEM product that has azadirachtin. It can work, in most cases, if applied correctly and consistently. Please keep us updated on your battle.

[@northeasttexasgardener]

Wow. I haven't encountered that problem yet, but there ARE a lot of aphids in my area. I thought we were going to lose my wife's Crape Myrtle trees because of the aphids. After weeks of spraying them with soapy water, we finally thinned down the aphid population. But it's an ongoing battle. You seem to be feeling better, or at least you're putting up a good front. Keep cranking out the awesome content. I love learning all I can about gardening. Now I need to watch some David The Good vids. lol

[@Latebloomershow]

You are on 🔥 my friend! Bravo!!

[@williamvillar7134]

i love neem oil and use it to treat all of my fruit trees when any kind of blight or mold shows up. I swear by it, it has worked on fire blight in my pears and other mold/mildew issues in my apples, stone fruits and mulberries as well.

[@Aquitania007]

Just watched the video per your suggestion; seems like it is simple enough, I saw some instructions elsewhere with alternatives which included neem as one, but it was spray this, do that, wash the leaves with water, run around the ladder 3 times counterclockwise while it is upside down, etc...since I was unwilling to go the distance, lol I was sure there was an easier way. Thank you!

[@mackwalker4564]

Hello Scott. Great show as usual. Trying to find out how the neem oil spray worked for your lime tree. I can't find any follow up on this. Thanks for all your great advice. Mack

[@jamescartwright2212]

This is my first time using need oil for white flies on a holly bush. Apparently, neem oil is bad for human lungs. I’ve been wearing a mask when I spray. No shortage if masks at our house these days. Thanks for the video.

[@tish2561]

My argument regarding neem oil or any plant oil for that matter, it is an oil, right? In treating my Cycad against aphids and scale, I cut off all the leaves of the Cycad and then put methelated spirits in spray bottle and sprayed the complete trunk of the Cycad, and using a paint brush to really get into the "woolie" bits of the trunk where these crawlies are hiding. My Cycad is doing extremely well since the treatment and is happy, no more aphid or scale. Finally, it has five brand new leaves. I think, if you can use neem oil on plants, then surely methelated spirits is a definite option as a form of maintenance against aphids and scale. I have tried and tested it twice now, and it works!

[@jasondillard1974]

Great video, thank you. I tried this once and burned my plants badly. If I remember correctly I used 1 tbsp neem and 1tbsp organic dish soap in a small hand sprayer. Almost killed my eggplants, basil, green beans. I'll try again with these measurements.

[@tyrehester5550]

Also I used rubbing alcohol to wipe down stems and leaves. I thought this might kill my lemon tree, but it invigorated it. I sprayed it with neem oil afterwards.

[@lourdesvalentin9794]

Thank you . I am new at gardening and I want to grow plants in pots I live in a small place. I am growing Herbs and they got like whilte and little black stuff on them. They were so beautiful and I am so upset about it, where do you buy your neem oil.

[@bambinaforever1402]

Garden store

[@dianeschillinger8461]

So, wondering, did it work? looked for an update video but did not find one...

[@Mainbwana]

His plant died. It was going to if he was spraying it outside in the daytime in peak sun.

[@ScottHead]

Scale was killed off in a few days, tree lived and is thriving and is doing just fine.

[@montanabaker5959]

This was supper helpful! I’ve never used neem oil and was worried I might hurt my plants. Thank you for the info!

[@richardpoliah3632]

Nice vid. I had this exact problem and used the neem oil as well. Now i'm facing a citrus mealy bug problem but hosing them off with water and periodic neem oil seems to control it.

[@jayvantkalyankar2289]

Is it effective on moscuitoes? please shate your experience.

[@thestupidgardener4642]

Neem oil works! Had an Aphid issue on my tomatoes and Neem oil took care of it!

[@daniellecordova2255]

Thanks for the tip! Last year my grapefruit tree lost all it's leaves.Like something ate them? So this year I'm watching my plant like a hawk. It did come back after the freeze.

[@biglou4452]

That's what I noticed on my Australian finger lime tree yesterday and also dealt with that on my figs too a year ago.

[@jodammerungii6134]

This looks like what was all over my asparagus beans. I sprayed with a baby shampoo/vinegar mix and it worked ok, but I really want to give the neem oil a try.

[@alexisnogueras9400]

Recommendation to remove the leaves. They will grow back fast. And re treat.

[@ausfoodgarden]

Yeah, I normally just manually remove a lot of the scale and then spray with white oil (soap and vegetable oil) I use neem oil as a general remedy when I'm not sure what I'm dealing with on the plants. I'm careful not to use neem oil around flowering plants though to protect the bees as best I can. Nice video Scott 👍

[@bambinaforever1402]

So did it help? Seems u were spraying overabundantly and might have burned the plant

[@naomi2646]

Thank you, its a battle this year in Texas 7b. Epic freeze, hail storms, Spider mites and fungus nats. My garden is doing good spite the trials. Wasn't sure about the best Neems oil mix. I got your recommendations for ants, orange oil, great stuff. Thank you!!

[@JD-zh5nv]

A surfactant is good to use as well.

[@sharbecr]

You can also use the neem mix to perform a deep soil soak so that the plant absorbs the azadirachtin, nimbin, picrin, and sialin in the oil which is deadly to the aphids and mealy bugs and all types of scale.

[@stevemcmullen4100]

I've been looking into using neem oil as a soil soak as you say and I've seen research that confirms that the oil does travel up the whole plant.What I haven't found is information about neem oil going into the fruit of the tree ,I am wondering how safe is the fruit to eat?

[@sharbecr]

@@stevemcmullen4100 Steve, I have been using raw, cold pressed neem oil as a soil soak for two years and have noticed NO changes in fruit (Meyer lemon, Key limes, Persian limes, grapefruits, and curry plant leaves)appearances and taste. From what I’ve read in the various journals the neem oil is not harmful to humans and has been used for centuries in India as a medicinal as well as a cosmetic remedy. I am, by the way, still alive and gardening with neem oil in Nashville. It appears to me that the use of neem oil obviates the need for anything else to remedy insect pests when used as a soil soak.

[@stevemcmullen4100]

@@sharbecr The neem oil I have states for spray application ratio is 30ml/liter water and I have read for soil soak to halve the ratio.What ratio do you use for soil soak?

[@sharbecr]

Steven, this is from Gopi at Pinch of Seeds: 2 tablespoons Neem oil (100% Cold Press) 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap (Castile soap is preferred) 1 Gallon Warm Water Bucket Measuring spoons Wooden stirrer

[@usamom]

Excellent explanation. Do you have to clean the spray head after using neem oil? Will it clog the spray head?

[@ScottHead]

Yes, good practice is to clean it with soap and water. I've also let it sit in the sprayer for a while, just takes a good blast to get the gumminess out, but its always best to just clean it.

[@56Linnea]

I've heard of using neem as a systemic for potted indoor plants. Spraying indoors with Neem during the long midwest winters is impossible for large plants. The oil would get everywhere. I can't seem to find out if Neem added to watering works, though. I've gotten a lot out of your other videos, hopefully you can advise me about this possibility too.

[@theghettocookingshow]

It would be great to see an update video. Did this work?

[@ScottHead]

Yeah it worked great but it was a couple of years ago, the tree is in excellent health that had the scales.

[@theghettocookingshow]

@@ScottHead Great news. My Orange tree had it and we didn't know what it was until I saw this video today. Thank you for sharing.

[@accidental_relevance]

So as a preventative measure I spray it on both sides of all the leaves ?

[@addammadd]

1.2g of xanthan gum in 10ml vegetable glycerin will disperse 30g neem in a gallon of water. Make a slurry with the xanthan and glycerin, add the neem and half a liter of water and blend with an immersion blender. Wait 5 minutes and blend again now that the xanthan is fully hydrated. Add that into a deck sprayer and add enough water to make a gallon. Shake it up and you’ve got a nice homogenous mix that sprays nicely and will stick better to your foliage. Xanthan gum is used in any myriad applications where you want a homogenous suspension of oils in water, and glycerine has beneficial properties for plants per the studies I’ve read.

[@ScottHead]

Good to know, my wife has xanthan gum I think.

[@copasetic216]

Thank you for this video. Loving the channel

[@rogersrivasan2150]

Incredibly useful!!! Thank you very much indeed!

[@leannestevens3840]

Great tutorial with close ups so we can identify the problem.

[@profecarrillo6479]

is it like organic dish soap or regular, like dawn and such?

[@ScottHead]

I'm not sure I understand the question.

[@profecarrillo6479]

@@ScottHead sorry, so, I would think dish soap has strong chemicals on it?

[@rasylifetoday1597]

Hello everyone, the land I used to use is very good for growing crops, I do this. I always do it on the roof of my house

[@ffs6158]

I sprayed my plants last night with neem and soap, and today was 100 and the edges and leaves where it would have puddled more in of a lot the leaves were a weird purplish/blackened! So perhaps its best not to spray in high heat weather at all. My plants were also very young, not sure if that's a factor, I've never seen it before.

[@misssheilalev]

Do you have any updates on this lime tree?

[@ScottHead]

It was fine, I think I applied Neem twice and it got rid of the scale. But then later that year it died due to drought, I've got two new lime trees.

[@josanders4051]

Sorry turning yellow even maranga and angel trumpet. Scott I've got the same thing happening to my hollyhawks.

[@CarlTheSidekick]

Love the glasses!

[@SouthFloridaSunshine]

I love Neem oil it is a Miracle juice for plants. Trying to spray at the right time at night now that the days are longer. And I don’t want to kill any bees (that is also why you don’t spray during the sunlight hours). I just used Neem spray to get rid of the chewing bugs on some of my plants and need to mix up some more TY for the reminder. As for the Pseudimold that is what they call it down here. It is a mold created exactly as you explained. (Hubby works for a lawn and ornamental company so been hearing about that and scale for years). Also he has let me know some holes or damage in leaves is from water left on certain plant leaves as it will rot holes in it, maybe because it suffocates the plant cells it sits on top of 🤷🏻‍♀️. I know the popular hedge plant-Ixora gets a lot of infestations down here and the pseudimold is how they spot where the bugs are the most concentrated. Great job Scott! (Forgive my spelling). I so wish I was as great like you DTG at making videos this was great.

[@francesmallory723]

Can you tell me what kind of plant this is?

[@SouthFloridaSunshine]

@@francesmallory723 Film it and put it on your youtube channel and possibly someone can help you.

[@Direwolflord]

Dealing with scalebugs on my schefflera atm so hoping this helps

[@vngudes]

Does this help with scale looking things on fig branches too?

[@ScottHead]

I'm not sure. I'd research fig-specific pests, they seem to be a special kind of tough.

[@RoseThistleArtworks]

I don't know if this is helpful for scale bugs, but Stefan Sobkowiak - The Permaculture Orchard says that aphids indicate an overage of nitrogen going on.

[@ML..]

@scott head... can the Neptune fish emulsion fertilizer be used in fruit plants too? I ordered it.❤️Thank you.

[@ScottHead]

Yes but they make one more tailored to fruit I think.

[@KKing55]

@@ScottHead You have helped me so much with my first year of gardening ~!!! Thank YOU~! I'm West of you by 4 hours. West of San Marcos. I've had Sweet Potatoes in the ground a month now. I'm wondering how much water they need. Are they like potatoes and don't need much, or do they need alot? Will they have pest??

[@ScottHead]

I usually just water mine when they seem to need it. They do well on their own but a little help every now and then is good. Nice part of Texas, I love that area.

[@desertstyle4839]

Does it have a repellent effect if it's just sprayed around the pots? Also if I just put this on the soil should I do it before or after I water, especially if I use the liquid fertilizer

[@ScottHead]

It doesn't likely repel anything, its the sticky oil in contact with the bug that smothers them.

[@PackRatManiac]

Thank you for sharing your gardening advice and also for plugging David the Good's channel. I really enjoy his videos too and also like Portishead.

[@derekcox6531]

When you think about it,the relationship between the scale bugs and the ants,is a perfect example of nature working in a perfect harmony. It’s quite fascinating really! Except for the part where people would dearly enjoy keeping our plants alive for our own needs. Enter human ingenuity!

[@InNOWvations]

How many sprays to knock out the scale.....I want the rest of the story!!

[@ScottHead]

Took two.

[@LillyR539]

Never seen those hope you save the plant Scott . Do you use 7Dust for other bugs ?🤠🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@ScottHead]

Never used 7 dust but not opposed to it

[@northeasttexasgardener]

I don't know what happened to it, but 7Dust doesn't work nearly as well as it did when I lived on the farm back in the 70s and 80s. It just seems like it's not nearly as potent now.

[@stephaniepearce3308]

@@northeasttexasgardener me either maybe it's some kind of new age genetic Hell bugs now?😄❤

[@DannysPoems]

Thanks, Scott, great video!

[@YAJESGARDEN]

I have aphids on my okra plants. I am afraid to spray with neem oil because of the heat.

[@ScottHead]

You can usually just spray the aphids off with a blast of the hose. My cowpeas get aphids every year and that's all I do to knock back their numbers.

[@Liwayputi]

Just what I needed!

[@MOHANKUMAR-qj4ce]

every 15 days spraying the whole year keeps trees very healthy and no insets come near mild dose is enough

[@jon1268]

How do I decide to use neem vs horticulture oil vs insecticidal soap?

[@ScottHead]

They all function the same way, so I just choose Neem oil since I have it on hand.

[@gardengalmarissa4510]

It’s that time for many pests even here in Japan. I love using neem but I need to be more consistent.

[@beckylupu]

I just tackled this problem in my flower beds.

[@romazone101]

Wow, I see you are still responding to comments so I'll leave this one, I solved a bad case of scale by dousing my lime tree with Windex! (2 treatments 5 days apart) Two months on and my plant is scale free and doing great. Am I crazy?

[@ScottHead]

If it works, it works! Windex has a soapy surfactant and ammonia, both are not good for the scale. :-)

[@dparamful]

What do you think about Bonide from Home Depot? It says active ingredient is neem oil. It lists that as 1%. And just says 99% : other ingredients. Dont know what to make of it.

[@ScottHead]

That should work but I think its not as good as a cold pressed neem. Bonide is a good brand all around though.

[@Musicloversusie]

Scott sorry to keep asking so many questions but my squash come on the vine and while they're still little they seem to rot and fall off. What am I doing wrong? Lost about 5 squash already. Can't figure it out.

[@ScottHead]

They are not being pollinated. This is common with the first flush of fruit. The plant might not yet be producing mature pollen. Totally OK.

[@Musicloversusie]

@@ScottHead so there's nothing I need to do? Possibly hand pollinate?

[@ScottHead]

No need to do anything, its a matter of pollen maturity. Give it some time. You can hand pollinate if it makes you feel better ;-)

[@hardyakka6200]

I have the same problem. I just use white oil. That works well. Have you ever grown Rhubarb?

[@ScottHead]

Never grown rhubarb.

[@hardyakka6200]

@@ScottHead I can grow it during winter I get heaps of good leaves off it then when it starts to suffer from the heat I dig it out. I grow it as an annual.

[@KyrenaH]

@@hardyakka6200 It grows as a perennial where I use to live in zone 5.

[@hardyakka6200]

@@KyrenaH No I tried that ,but if with a shade cloth over it the heat and humidity was too much. I got it to live through summer, but there was no vigorous rebound in the cooler weather. I met a man buying a punnet of 4 seedlings of Rhubarb and he told me just to treat it as an annual. replant every season. Stalks 13-15 inches long and 2-3 inches thick is good enough. Crops for about 5 months before it gives up.

[@Garyskinner2422]

Always best to do in low sun light or in shade, else the leaves burn using neem oil

[@tiffystrangebirdbrown6844]

Something made lace of my big leafed (spring) veg plants in one night... Im outta town again and gardening by proxy but I maybe should have neem oiled my peppers, okra, young oleander and young yellow bells... I think... LOL... Just for protection but I left everything else in place for a bug buffet til I get home, hoping they eat those old plants.

[@LPanda-09]

Hi 👋 can I need to use neem oil for my peach tree now or I need to wait the spring time ？I am live in Chicago.

[@ScottHead]

If you have a pest the neem oil will eradicate, it is OK to use now.

[@LPanda-09]

Thanks ！

[@practicallyplants2747]

Ants tried to do this on my peach tree. Eucalyptus and tea tree oil will work too.

[@josanders4051]

My plants on top only are turning

[@lesj39]

Great video. Thanks.

[@anamariaguadayol2335]

I love neem oil.

[@YesterYearAudio]

Did this help at all?

[@ScottHead]

Yes, took two or three applications if I remember correctly

[@YesterYearAudio]

@@ScottHead Perfect. I will do it weekly.

[@naomitaylor929]

I did a hundred percent neem oil diluted with warm water and peppermint oil and castor oil soaps to break up the neem oil I put it on all my plants front and back yard my tomato plants didn't have aphids until the next day after I sprayed them😮 I'm curious what attracted these aphids to my tomato plants because there were zero yesterday and now there are big fat juicy ones on almost every leaf 🤯

[@spoonnwithsunshinehomestead]

Great informative video 😊

[@TheGRider56]

Did the neem oil kill the scales?

[@ScottHead]

Yes, took two applications if I recall.

[@heidip657]

Thank you!

[@Craig_Humphries]

Look forward to the update. Hope it works!

[@BHarry-mx9py]

Neem will also disrupt the reproductive processes of aphids.

[@stephaniepearce3308]

Thank you so very much...😇

[@SDW080]

Aphids are out of control on my okra. I have tried hosing them off with water and they are back in days. I have tried insecticidal soap. I guess it's time to try neem. They just keep coming back.

[@SDW080]

THANKS. I will try that.

[@RPHayes]

Thanks

[@whatifitnt]

Thank You 💝

[@whatifitnt]

Update? Thanks💖

[@ScottHead]

Worked great. I did another application 3 days after and rid the plants of the pests.

[@leticiagr2222]

I hope your tree recovers. I deal with Aphids and spider mites. I despise them.

[@Dselestial]

Does Neem Oil kill off the ants as well?

[@ScottHead]

No, but orange oil will kill the ants.

[@LorenzoLafayetteQuadri]

Use potassium soft soap rather than dish soap. Dish soap is toxic for the environment, potassium soap is safer and also a good potassium source if it gets into the ground. Blooming will be awesome

[@randydeshane9991]

I get spider mites every year in one raised bed. Would spraying need oil on the soil kill them?

[@ScottHead]

I doubt spraying the soil would work but its worth experimenting with.

[@debihediger4760]

Bugs And gophers are such a pain in the garden and orchards, aggravating!

[@jamieromar6168]

Did this take care of the problem for you?do you have an update?

[@ScottHead]

Yes, this took care of the issue, though I sprayed 3 times over the week.

[@putinhynes3848]

I had some spider webs on my peach tree leaves. How do I safely get rid of them permanently other than neem oil .

[@ScottHead]

I don't eliminate spiders, they are good for the garden, so I really don't have any advice. So sorry.

[@putinhynes3848]

@@ScottHead so it's ok to have spiders in the leaves making a web?

[@ScottHead]

Yes, just fine. They are your friends.

[@putinhynes3848]

@@ScottHead thanks for your help and the new friends😁

[@Dee.C]

Get rid of the ants too or the scale and aphids come right back .

[@gloadev]

Scales are nasty little suckers.

[@RickPattoncomedy]

It's sooooo sad you didn't show the result or the change after your sprayed!! You just made insignificant statements that need attention- IF YOU REALLY CARRED you would have followed through, especially the affects on blossums that need pollinators to help your plants.