How to Use Neem for Japanese Beetles in Blackberry Bushes

Neem oil is an organic insecticide that comes from the neem tree. The oil disrupts the life cycle of pests in blackberry bushes, including the invasive Japanese beetle. Japanese beetles will consume the foliage of blackberry plants so they cannot photosynthesize, and the plants will then die. The beetles release a pheromone that attracts other Japanese beetles, so trapping them is not practical. Neem oil is an effective method of killing existing beetles without drawing more to the bush.

Things You'll Need

• Garden sprayer
• 1 gallon water
• 4 tsp. neem oil
• 1/2 tsp. surfactant

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Fill a garden sprayer with 1 gallon of water. Add 4 tsp. of neem oil.

   • 2

     Add 1/2 tsp. of a garden surfactant. A surfactant is a liquid product that helps oil-based insecticides and foliar sprays stick to the surface of leaves.

   • 3

     Put the lid on the sprayer and shake the tank to mix all the ingredients. Spray the blackberry bush from the top to the soil, wetting the tops and bottoms of the leaves.