Filter the mixture through the cheesecloth to remove all non-liquid particles, then transfer the mixture to the quart jar.

Put the lid on the blender and thoroughly liquefy the mixture.

Add the rest of the water and four drops of liquid dish soap.

Put the lid on the blender and pulse until the cloves are well chopped.

Place all of the cloves into the blender and add a cup of water.

Finally, target the pest’s hiding places by spraying on the undersides of leaves and along plant stems. If damaging pests are present, spray in the early morning or later in the evening when the pests are present and active. For instance, do not spray if no pest insects are present or causing damage. For this reason it is important to use it in a way that will minimize collateral damage. When using a commercially available garlic insecticide, follow the manufacturer’s handling and application instructions as shown on the product label.Īs a non-targeting insecticide, garlic spray also has deterrent or harmful effects on beneficial insects. Garlic insecticide is available for purchase from garden suppliers, or you can try making your own. If you have problems with deer, mice, moles, or rabbits in the garden, a few well placed drops of garlic essential oil or a garlic-based repellent may help steer your unwanted garden visitors in a different direction.

It’s especially helpful against annoying aphids, armyworms, beetles, caterpillars, cutworms, mites, mosquitoes, and flies. The irritating and disorienting sulfur compounds in garlic repel most flying and crawling insects. Valeria Vechterova/Shutterstock What pests does garlic spray keep away? In the garden, sensitive bugs tend to simply stay away from treated plants, but those that are present at the time of application will be killed. In lab tests, these sulfur compounds interfere with the insect’s sensory receptors, causing disorientation and death at all life stages for a wide variety of flying and crawling bugs. Non-insecticidal neem oil is sometimes incorporated into soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics, and medicine.Garlic essential oil and its naturally occurring constituents, diallyl disulfide and diallyl sulfide, are the keys to its effectiveness. However, unlike azadirachtin, neem oil is effective not only for insect control, but is also effective against rust, powdery mildew, sooty mold, and other fungal diseases. Neem oil extract contains a lower concentration of azadirachtin, and is less effective against insects. When azadirachtin is extracted from neem oil, the substance left over is known as clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil, commonly known simply as neem oil or neem oil extract. Azadirachtin is available in sprays, cakes, water-soluble powder, and as a soil drench. Some growers prefer to alternate azadirachtin with other pesticides because doing so decreases the risk that pests will become resistant to frequently used chemical pesticides. Neem OilĪzadirachtin has proven to be effective against at least 200 insect species, including common pests such as: Azadirachtin, a substance extracted from neem seeds, is the primary insecticidal compound found in neem oil. Neem oil is a mixture of several components, many of which have insecticidal qualities. However, neem oil and azadirachtin insecticide may be slightly to moderately harmful to fish and aquatic mammals. Bees and other pollinators are also unharmed. Both substances are effective for repelling and killing insect pests and also interfere with feeding, mating, and egg laying.īoth are safe for humans, wildlife, and the environment when used properly.

Both come from the neem tree, native to India but now grown in warm climates around the world. Neem oil and azadirachtin aren’t the same, but the two are closely related. Let’s explore the relationship between neem oil and azadirachtin insecticide in the garden. What is azadirachtin insecticide? Are azadirachtin and neem oil the same? These are two common questions for gardeners seeking organic or less toxic solutions to pest control.

Insecticides and pesticides need oil