Neem and DE are safe, but I would avoid using lawn pesticides (read: not labelled for crops meant to be consumed) anywhere near your plants. Also, some lawn products have targeted broadleaf-weed killers in them. FYI.

Those plants look good. That level of insect damage is to be expected outdoors; manually pick off any pests you see, and use your neem lightly after every rainfall.
stinkyattic Reviewed by stinkyattic on . need 2nd opinion, I'm thinking bugs! I'm thinking I might have a pest problem on my 6 wk old babies. I have 12 plants, 11 of them are in the ground & 1 is in a pot, (the 1 in the pot has no signs of problem & it stays outside just like the rest, it's just in a pot.) Its on the lower(new & old)leaves. thers not much to describe, it looks like some thing eating the pigment of the leaf & there appears to be a thin black trail with in the affected area & then browning & then death of leaf so any suggestion on solution & products to Rating: 5