Because the soap works on contact, it must be sprayed directly onto the pest. Don't substitute household liquid soaps for insecticidal soap because they can damage plants. These oils have long been used to control pests on dormant woody plants. These oils control aphids, beetles, mites, scales, lace bugs and mealybugs. It must be applied frequently, before bugs arrive in your garden.
Sulfur is useful to control fungal diseases and suppress mites.
It's sold in a concentrated liquid or powder form. The pests stop eating several days after taking the bait, and soon die. The product is safe for use around pets and wildlife. Remember, the presence of pests in your yard doesn't mean they'll destroy your plants. The key is to keep pest numbers down.