I wondered the same thing. But he seems to think his guy just used too much neem oil. Thanks for the response.

Used neem in excessively warm or cold temperatures, did not follow mixing directions, did not neutralize sprayer in case herbicide was used, applied neem when plants were under water stress.

Ok.... I am just going to throw this out there.... hopefully with someone with more experience can comment on what I am going to give as a theory..... Here in South Florida I live on the Intracostal... During severe tropical storms and hurricanes I have gotten salt burn and have lost bushes... I was told the next time (several times ago) if I get salt damage to wash the plant off to get all of the salt off of the plant.... then strip the leaves off the plant.... so I did. The theory is that it would put the plant in Hibernation . After I started doing this I have not lost roses from salt.... other things yes, but not salt..... I am wondering (please give your thoughts) if this would work for over doing neem oil....

Avamb, please don't do this, unless someone else who has more experience gives you the ok.... I am just trying to prompt thoughts that might help you....

Sharon

No worries. I won’t. I sprayed down all the plants again early this am and I think i at least halted the damage to where it is. I’ll trim back the plants and call it a day at this point. I found out it was actually an over application of sesame oil. Thanks for your response Sharon.

Avamb, where do you live? How hot was it the day they sprayed? Any kind of oil spray should only be used on cool and cloudy days to protect the leaves from...cooking! Holly, Laurel and Rhodos have much thicker, more leathery leaves than roses and would stand up to the heat and sun better. Rose leaves are thin and the oil and hot sun causes them to burn.

Leave the leaves on them. Just clean up the ground around them as they fall. Water, water, water! No fertilizer until they grow some new leaves. They should survive.

I’m zone 7b. It was around 65 and I think they came midday unfortunately.

It seems they over applied or the concentration was off.

And it ended up being sesame oil not neem.

Should I cut back the roses to avoid leggy regrow? And I had Holly and Ilex drop leaves as well. Leaves on the rhodies just have burn spots and the ones getting more sun are yellowing.

Thanks for responding!

You can prune them back some if you wish but I say leave the leaves on because they protect the canes from sunburning and what leaves are still green are still feeding the plant.

Thank you.