Question
Another question Jim please.

Last year some kind of caterpillar did a lot of destructive damage in my garden until I sprayed with Neem Oil, but the damage had already been done, especially to the leaves of a young ginko tree. This year I want to start spraying early. How early can I safely start? The ginko is only just breaking its buds.

Answer
You can use neem oil as a prevention if you start spraying early after the leaves have expanded. You will need to treat several times at about 10 day intervals maybe 6 times to cover the time of the insects attacking. If you knew what insect was eating the leaves you can treat during the time of attack maybe cutting down the treatment times. You can use an insecticide called Bayer Advanced tree and shrub Insect control. This is a soil applied insecticide and the roots will carry it to the leaves and when the insects feed they are killed. It will protect the tree for the season. Here is a web link to this product. http://www.bayeradvanced.com/product/Tree-Shrub-Insect-Control/concentrate.html