Dealing with pests can be expensive, but it can get more manageable when you know how to use neem oil for pest control. Not only that, it’s a learning experience that can help you for a long time.
Pests are an existence that seems to be made to test your patience. It may be well within your experience to know that they have a tendency to come back.
If you’re one to dislike the frequent visits of pest control personnel, then you’re probably looking for a way to do the deed yourself. On that note, wouldn’t it also be better to do it in a greener procedure?
Steps In Applying Neem Oil For Pest Control
It should be within anyone’s capacity to deal with a small number of pests in one’s home. After all, it seems regardless of how clean your place is; some pests just find spots to creep into your place.
If you’re wondering what alternative you can use for pests, then there’s neem oil. Here are the steps you can use for it:
Step #1. Gather all the parts for the neem solution
To start, you first need to create your mixed solution prior to your intended application. While the neem oil itself is easy to find, they’re not commonly sold as ready-to-apply mixtures but just as the oil itself.
Making your mixture requires pure neem oil, water, and dishwashing liquid. Creating your solution from these three at home will allow you to adjust the concentration suitable to your taste.
Any dishwashing liquid or detergent will do since its job on this mixture is to allow the solubility of oil and water, which usually form separate layers. However, you can try using something that will make pest control more effective by using something that’s also a repellant.
A peppermint soap can be an option since it’s also a bug repellant by its smell.
Step #2. Mix your pest control solution in the proper proportion
After obtaining the substances to be mixed, pick up a mixing bucket and the spray bottle you intend to use for application. Use a bucket that can fit all the volume you need; then, you can just keep refilling your spray bottle on application.
You can mix as much solution as you feel you need to soak all the surfaces that have pests at the moment. However, it would be best to stick to a proportion that effectively deals with these pests.
Mix the soap with water first, then the neem the oil. A good proportion for general use is two teaspoons of soap, two tablespoons of pure neem, and one gallon of water.
Mix the solution well, then transfer it to the spray bottle.
Step #3. Apply the neem solution directly to pests
After the solution is ready, you can now start the application. Spray the solution directly on the pests you are concerned about, as well as the nearest surfaces to them.
Neem oil is safe for plants and animals in proper proportions. Make sure that you soak all the undersides with the solution for better effects.
Apply the same mixture again after a week, so the pest infestation doesn’t return.
What is neem oil?
Neem oil is a natural organic pesticide derived from the seeds of neem trees. Neem trees are thought to originate from the Indian subcontinent and South Asia.
Neem oil has many other uses other than as an organic pesticide. It also has application in the medicinal and cosmetics industry, mainly using its antifungal and antibacterial properties.
An active content of neem oil that gives it its strength against pests is called Azadirachtin. This substance is exceptionally potent as it disrupts the pests’ normal growth phases by getting in the way of larvae molting into adults.
Other than that hormonal disruption, neem oil can also act as a feeding inhibitor and reduce the fertility of insects by altering reproductive and mating behaviors. It can also kill some of these pests with soft bodies with simple contact.
One of the most significant advantages of using neem oil against pests is that it’s safe for larger animals (like pets), humans, and plants. It’s fairly safe for some beneficial organisms as well.
Another natural pest control is ladybugs; read this article regarding how to use ladybugs for pest control to find out how.
Is neem oil effective for pest control?
Yes, since it’s highly effective against pests, neem oil has been used for such purposes for a long time. Since it’s been around and in use for a while, neem oil is also researched well for multiple applications like anti-dandruff shampoo; for conditions like acne, psoriasis, and diabetes.
Neem oil is not without flaw, though. It breaks down with ultraviolet light, so it requires regular reapplication, and since its oil, plants, especially the young ones and seedlings, are at risk of getting burnt with too much oil.
While its safe for people with low exposure, it is deemed unsafe for pregnant individuals as it can cause miscarriage. Other than that, neem oil gets broken down and excreted when ingested.
If you’re curious to know what is the best outdoor pest control, check this article out.
Conclusion
Now that you know much about how to use neem oil for pest control, you can start dealing with pests in your yard. If you do so regularly, recurrence of infestation should be outside of your worries.