I created a "Back to Eden" garden about 5 years ago using wood chips as my mulch. I have loved this type of gardening, but this year I have had an epidemic of roly poly bugs (aka potato bugs or sow bugs) in the soil. They have destroyed most of my potato crop along with a lot of other plants and seeds this past summer. I want to keep my garden organic. I have researched what to do and have determined that Neem Oil is probably the best thing to use, but I don't know if it will penetrate into the soil. Can you give me any advice? Thank you!

If you spray Neem oil on the foliage, it will travel to the roots also. Remember to use Neem in the evening so you don't burn your foliage and that it takes a couple weeks to work.

@daisyl. ???? Im confused?????
I thought neem oil was bio safe. Are the potatoes gonna be safe to eat ?
Also.if it goes into the roots.isn't it going to end up in top fruit. Like tomatoes.squash.beans.etc. ?

Also...It takes 2 wks. To work ? So do you mean that you only spray it every 2 wks.?
It sounds like i may want to take my bottle of neem oil back to store.

Phil,

Spray it once (per season) and be patient. It is not a contact spray. The Neem is absorbed through the leaves and ends up in all parts of the plant but it takes a while to get there. Then, any sucky bug that bites the plant will die but good bugs will not be affected.

Although Neem is deadly to sucky bugs, it is safe for humans. In fact, it is used in soap, lotons and shampoos.

PS: Make sure you buy 100% Neem