How to Prevent and Kill SQUASH BUGS

In this video, I'm going to give you ways to prevent squash bugs, including companion planting strategies. I'm also going to show a sure fire way to kill them if you do get them.
RELATED VIDEOS
Grow Squash Vertically: • How to Grow Squash Ver...
Prevent & Kill Earwigs: • How to Get Rid of Earwigs
Prevent & Kill Aphids: • How to Get Rid of APHIDS
Prevent & Kill Slugs & Snails: • How to Get Rid of SLUG...
Companion Planting for Tomatoes: • Companion Planting // ...
Companion Planting for Peppers: • Companion Planting // ...
Your Victory Garden Squash Bug Experiment: • Squash Bug Control
DR. BRONNERS SOAP, ROW COVERS & OTHER PRODUCTS I LOVE
www.nextlevelgardening.tv/pro...
JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP
/ nextlevelgardeners
FOLLOW ME HERE
Website: www.NextLevelGardening.TV​​​​​​​
KZbin: / nextlevelgardening
Instagram: / nextlevelgardening
Pinterest: / nextlevelgardening

[@juliewest7977]

I usually go around squashing the squash bug eggs, but it can get tedious looking under each leaf, and invariably I miss some. Once, when I was in the process of doing this, I felt a little pinch on my finger. And, there was a praying mantis. He bit me! because I was killing his dinner! They definitely do help keep them in check. I've also done the vacuum method. One year, when they just got out of hand, I went out with my vacuum and sucked hundreds of them up. Oh, they know what is happening and the run like crazy to escape! My neighbor called out the window wanting to know what I was doing! He thought I lost my mind, vacuuming my garden! It greatly reduced the population. Then a week later I did it again to get the ones I missed and any newly hatched broods. That was 6-7 years ago, and with the help of the praying mantises, I haven't had a terrible outbreak since.

[@crownofhair]

This is exactly what I need! Thank you!

[@agnieszkaszczepanska6071]

Hahaha! “On their backs, tongues out”. Brian, you gave me the visual to remember!!! Can not stop laughing! Thank you! I so needed it today!

[@C3Voyage]

Soap/Dawn or Soap mix has been a remedy for a long time. It does work great, but I've learned that you should rinse the plants afterwards to remove the residue which dries the leaves. Growing vertical and using a hand-held vacuum is a very easy solution to keep populations down. Can't kill them all, but it makes a huge impact. Same for lots of insects and crops--grow vertically and vacuum. So, basically, I'm saying good advice.

[@ashleyh1129]

Vacuum is SUCH a great idea!!!

[@securelifestyle6276]

Soap works GREAT! I do add neem as an additional treatment. They are dead in no time flat!

[@beekervdubs508]

I recently watched a video about prevention, I cant remember who did it but she advised to use duct tape to pull the eggs off... It works like a miracle !!! we used the cheap dollar store stuff , wrapped around your fingers, rotating as you go...it will sometimes tear the leaf but it usually pulls all the eggs off in one stick...

[@gregwanee2689]

Cut off some dying leaves yesterday on my squash plant, and low and behold, found some squash eggs. I’ve been pretty diligent , morning and evening, looking for squash bugs. Found and destroyed 3 large egg groups and about 10 squash bugs. Last year they killed my crookneck plant, so this year I knew what to look for

[@NextLevelGardening]

Good! Satisfying! 🤣🤣

[@redfoxfarmsms4149]

As soon as I finished watching, I ran out and tried this. I didn’t have the Dr Bronners, so used some clear, all natural dish soap. It worked! They dropped off quickly, dead😃. I then cleaned off any eggs using duct tape. Thanks!

[@Thunderdomehomestead]

Squash bugs are one of the things that make me mercilessly militant. The second I see them I go into kill mode. Hate those things. Thanks for the tips!

[@loriswain8140]

What a great guy- giving props to other YT content! I’ve learned a lot from your channel. Thank you.

[@SuchaCaligrrl]

Every winter, we cover up our garden beds with cardboard and brown paper bags (those from whole foods, Central Market/Trader Joes, you know, the recyclable ones). We leave them on the beds throughout the season up until it is time to start planting, and even then we don't remove them, we just lay down new compost/soil and manure over them, then plant our seeds, so honestly we've never had any bug issues, until recently. Last year 2020 was the first year that we failed to cover the beds up now this year we are seeing the consequences. I honestly believe that by us covering the beds up and leaving them covered up helped tremendously, it made it difficult for these bugs to survive and even if they did,, it made it hard for them to dig their way out... eating cardboard and paper isn't delicious. I never even knew of these darn bugs, I just thought wowww we are blessed with all this food, gardening is not hard it is easy, simply plant it, and forget it... YEAH RIGHT 😠😤😡🤬, SOOOO not the case. Now I see the pain and hard work that it actually takes.

[@mesmer1218]

Been using Dr. Bronners peppermint with good results for years now. Here in North Texas, it’s usually the vine borer that kills my squash. I have been spraying BT, but I ordered the syringes to give my squash plants a weekly BT injection, as advised by your other video. I hope it works. I’ll soon be planting seedlings for Fall squash. Fingers crossed! 🤞

[@billdiesinger193]

Love Peppermint Bronners for garden use.

[@sibylc2908]

These look like what we call stink bugs in the southeast, and they’re all over my squash. And my cucumbers, and my cantaloupes, and my tomatoes, and… I hate them… 😞

[@ItsAlwaysSummer]

Same! I massacre them everyday. I am sooooo sick of them.

[@monicamayer977]

Had them last year

[@natureluvr_d7186]

We do too in Illinois. I've killed several stink bugs and it's hard to tell them from squash bugs unless they're actually on my zuke. I think the squash bugs have a longer snout to suck the juice from the plant.

[@ItsAlwaysSummer]

@@natureluvr_d7186 I even found squash bug eggs on my tomato leaves! It is hard to tell them apart.

[@sammi-joreviews1135]

I’m growing everything vertically this year & using cattle panel fences. Since my plants are growing diagonal to utilize both sides of the fences, I’m finding stink bugs on many of them. Although, I am using the Dr. Bronner Castile soap & it’s helping to kill them but I’m having to find them first. I’m legally blind but with a little light perception so I keep trying to kill as many as possible. I keep a cup with Castile soapy water as I check plants in order to knock the bugs into the water as I find them.

[@sugarpop2883]

Umm... THIS. TOTALLY. WORKS!! (The solution.) Not only did kill the Squash bugs, but I found out accidentally that it makes removing eggs super easy! I sprayed the bugs down and basically the whole plant in case there were some hiding out. Then I spotted some eggs and started to remove them by hand. They just came right off. Amazing!!! Thank you for sharing.

[@deborahrusignuolo7612]

I enjoy watching your videos not only do I learn things but I also get a good laugh. Thank you for sharing

[@GrandmasFoodGarden]

Can't wait for tomorrow! Last year I didn't even plant curcubits since I so hated the squash bugs. I planted lots this year though, as learned they can be conquered, but now am having vine borer issues! Have been researching what to do for them. Won't order anything til I see your video tomorrow.

[@tamboliyatamboliya2815]

Thank you! I've had trouble with these pests for years! They've been a thorn in my side for years!

[@kayegeis3938]

My husband has done that before for squash bugs and it works

[@NextLevelGardening]

Great!

[@SpiceyKy]

Great info.

[@joemccall8991]

We've been using Dr. Bonners to knock down aphids on several plants. Dries out soft-bodied insects but never thought of using it against squash bugs, great tip Brian (and OG KZbinr)!

[@JRileyStewart]

Interesting. I happened to pull Bonner's hemp-lavender soap randomly out from under the sink to battle a case of aphids earlier this spring. 1tsp/16oz spray bottle; just enough to barely get suds after shaking. This was a wild-ass guess (of course). Anyway, it's worked wonders on aphids and cabbage-moth larvae. So now whenever I see "anything" eating "anything"- I pull out my spray bottle and make quick work of it. I haven't seen any damage from the spray on any of my plants: tomatoes, peppers, curcubits, parsley, cilantro, lettuces, chard, radishes, beets, whatever. This must be a well kept secret because your mention of it is the first I've seen. Thanks! It has a nice smell that lasts in the garden. After treating my garden, I've watched many cabbage moths fly over my cabbages without even acting as if they know the plants are there. At this point, I haven't seen an aphid in several weeks. Highly recommended for pest control.

[@NextLevelGardening]

Nice!

[@bettycloudsdale9802]

Where do you buy this Bonners soap?

[@JRileyStewart]

@@bettycloudsdale9802 Grocery store. It's pretty common in our area (mid-Atlantic US). But you can substitute for any mild, lavender-based or similar hand soap.

[@Robert-xp4ii]

I'm a first time gardener and I'm a huge fan of killing anything that causes me more work or grief. Gardening is a lot of work and money if done right so I'm not happy seeing holes or white areas on leaves.

[@eilandwaynette]

Just an FYI, a woman wrote a book called "The No Work Garden" and it is awesome 👌

[@al4377]

I LOVE the description of those squash buhmgs on their backs tounges out YEAH I use the Bonner soap in my Neem oil spray so already got it and gonna try it.

[@krisieboothe1797]

Thank you! You were the first to describe their life cycle. Very helpful information 👌

[@cathydavis9259]

My first time watching you. I appreciate your getting to the point without a bunch of TMI, drama or shouting. Thank you (yes, I gladly pushed the like, bell and subscribe.

[@crownofhair]

So many folks shout (to be exciting I'm guessing) and I just can't. Gardening isn't an intense adrenaline rush for me 😂

[@curiouscat3384]

Good timing! I've been trying these tricks for several years but they still catch me by surprise. One technique for capturing the adults is to go out just about sunrise and thoroughly water about a 6" circle around the base of the plant and ... wait for it... in less than a minute you'll see a few squash bugs crawling out of the ground. They're fairly slow moving so are easy to catch and throw in a bucket of water or I just squeeze them dead. I've used soaps successfully for many different bug problems. Dr. Bronner's is just liquid castile soap so really any mild soap with no chemicals will work. Only problem is you have to apply it regularly and definitely after rain.

[@judymckerrow6720]

I’m so happy for you that your moving and will have more land to work with, but I don’t think I could leave behind what you’ve created, it’s so beautiful, I’d be so torn. My husband would like to move, my garden is a beginning garden but I’ve put a lot of work into it and still have a lot more to go but I would be , am so sad to leave what I’ve planted and nurtured and want to see what it will become when everything reaches its potential. So while I’m happy for you, I’m also sad because you have created something truly spectacular!💚🙃

[@tpen891]

I love it. Did mix of the soap today and it works great.

[@conniec4936]

Squash bugs: I just use my torch on them! The eggs pop under the heat and the big and small bugs drop dead immediately. A couple leaves got singed, but better than losing the whole plant! Did this 2 weeks ago! Haven't seen ANY since!!! Warning: be careful of burning more holes in any weed fabric you might use!

[@ryanmurphy4287]

Hey Brian! Congrats on the new house! I'm trying to find the best way to send you a photo of my new tomato raised bed & trellis that you inspired 100%! Please advise. I do have a quick question on pruning of my indeterminate tomatoes. A couple of the plants have something happening that seems unusual. Usually the truss of fruit (branching directly off the main stem) grows several blossoms and then stops. However, on a couple of my plants, the truss of blossoms kept on going into the form of another branch. This branch shooting out from the truss of blossoms has now developed a leaf and an armpit sideshoot just as it would on the main stem of the plant. I'm unsure if I should let the branch grow beyond the truss of flowers and prune the side shoot, or maybe prune the whole branch just beyond the last bunch of flowers. I took a photo of this odd flowering branch to show you, but again, I'm unsure of the best way to get photos to you.

[@mountaingran9623]

I definitely will try the Dr Bronners if I have a squash bug issue. I do plant a lot of things in my garden that repel squash bugs. My number one is nasturtiums-they also serve as trap plants for leaf miners. In addition I have dill, marigolds, and other plants throughout my vegetable gardens.

[@melissasullivan1658]

The only thing my nasturtiums have done is become infested with spider mites (sprayed the crap outta them tho, which was super satisfying 😏). The nasturtium trick is really overhyped.

[@nellanddudley]

These have been my nemesis...not any more 😊 Thanks for another video with truly helpful advice!!! I'll be growing vertically this year and using the Castile soap. Oh, and my ShopVac 😂. When I prune, I always look for praying mantis eggs. I put the egg casings in among my veggies.

[@NextLevelGardening]

Nice! Good luck!

[@rosiethurman7900]

Haha you’re funny and I love that you give other videos shout outs! Thank you!

[@wormweirdo340]

Ah, we don't have issues with squash bugs here, but BOY do we have SVB issues. *shakes fist in air* I'm trying 'resistant' varieties this year. Excited to see the SVB video!

[@carriewebb5764]

I can relate to SVB issues. They mostly just attack my Zucchini so this year I covered my Zucchini with a row cover and so far so good. It's frustrating not being able to see my plants and to hand pollinate, but better than losing 100% of my plants to SVBs. Someone also said you can inject BT into the stems, but I haven't tried that yet... might be a good option.

[@jillshippy5157]

I love your channel: great information and awesome since of humor 😂😂😂😂😂‼️🥰

[@ctech01]

Thank you for this valuable info.

[@daisyisaac3169]

The best video on you tube. Thank you so very much.

[@mfrazer2598]

Your raspberries look great! Mine are doing well too!

[@topcat700]

I use a mixture of that soap, mixed with water, apple cider vinegar, and mint oil. I spray that in my chicken coup daily in the summer and get no flies in there and it also kills any mites. It really works. Plus, it makes the coup smell nice. I spray it directly on the wood. I do clean my coup daily in hot weather and every other day in cold weather and also clean my run. I only have 4 hens. But they are happy and healthy. I am going to try this in my garden with squash bugs and also grow my squash vertically.

[@LJFullHouse]

I was inundated last year with squash bugs. Ugh! Toward the end of the summer, I noticed a lot of praying mantises. This year, I have seen a lot of baby mantises all around my garden. Yay!

[@PaullaWells]

This is killer information! No pun intended! 🤣 I am so going to get a bottle of that soap. Mostly because you said it works on other pests too. Thanks so much for the info! Ton notch!

[@NextLevelGardening]

You're welcome!

[@maryloumelkowski8307]

Be careful of soap spray. I used it a couple of years ago, just a tiny bit of soap in the water. It damaged my plants worse than the bugs did. If you do use it don't leave it on the plant. It has to hit the squash bug directly in order to kill it. So rinse it off the plant quickly.

[@karenandriancontainergardening]

Thank you, it helped. I lost five of my zucchini plant and I fear I will lose the rest. I am replanting more but I need to save those. Thanks again and take care.

[@saundrayork1654]

Can't wait to try the liquid soap solution, many thanks! Years ago, to control squash bugs, etc., I bought preying mantis eggs and lace wings and the next year there were NO issues for my garden and all my neighbors' gardens -- just a thought

[@janetbrown3349]

Thank you! Just what I needed. In case anyone is wondering, use 1 teaspoon of Dr. Bronner's soap in 1 quart of hot water. This is per Dr. Bronner's site.

[@GardenIdeas01]

Very nice video how to prevent and kill squash bugs in the garden for me i have problem with this bug attacked on my watermelon and cucumber i use net to cover melon can can prevent some fruit other fruit was spoil and fall down, thanks for sharing and like the your content

[@missourigirl4101]

Thanks so much Brian! What other bugs died the Castile soap and water alone kill?

[@kathsflowerpatch5220]

Thanks for the tips.

[@krickette5569]

I've always loved Loved Praying Mantis but saw a video several years ago, of a Praying Mantis killing a Hummingbird!!! :( Now if I find PM's in my garden/yard I transport them to another part of the farm. I still love them, but I love my Hummingbirds even more.

[@sunshineinfla222]

They will return to their prey unless put very far away

[@johncoaleii1423]

Last year I watched a large female Praying Mantis take out one of my hummingbirds sadly. My wife has videos and pictures.

[@rhondadean5455]

Amen. Me too.

[@rhondadean5455]

My grandmother always told me PM spit in the eyes and make you blind. I was Terrified of them

[@cwavt8849]

I have never heard of praying mantis killing hummingbirds. You've opened my eyes to a brand new problem I never knew existed. I will now start protecting my hummingbirds. Thank you all for the heads up

[@faithwalk791]

Thanks for sharing! My biggest problem has been the Japanese beetles & the little white flies. Do you have any advice for these pests?

[@aquilaclark814]

Thanks ..Just found your channel thanks for the info🥰

[@2BitRanch]

It worked! Went out this morning and had a bunch onmy squash.

[@tomnekuda3818]

I have NEVER hated a garden pest like I hate squash bugs......I'm takin' notes! I'll grow 'em vertically......there's nothing that would delight me more than to see a squash bug lose his footing, fall, and break his neck!

[@NextLevelGardening]

Go get em!

[@malayajenkins6130]

Thank you im going to try this out i saw the eggs but i very sacred of bugs so I din't touch it but im going to try your soap method!

[@joanies6778]

When I make my garden pest spray with neem oil, Dr Bonner ' s doap, and peppermint oil, first I combine the ingredients in a quart jar of warm water with a lid and shake it so everything combines well. Then I pour it in the sprayer filling it to a gallon. Anyways, that empty jar with residue stays in my garden. I just open the lid and either scrape the bug off the plant or tap the plant forcing the bug to fall. A few minutes in that jar and it's over for them. One evening I caught a bunch of squash vine borers, including several mating couples. I hate to kill anything, but they are messing with my food!

[@brianmorris364]

Dish soap, dill, isopropyl alcohol, and white vinegar. Crush the head of a chrysanthemum and also the hwad of a marigold and soak in the solution. Remove the dill, and flowers, then spray liberally around the base of the plants during a period of days without rain.

[@melissasullivan1658]

Thanks for covering prey mantises. Also, vendors seem to only sell non-natives which are super invasive. I have an upstairs balcony garden and miraculously one baby mantis showed up - honestly this is legit all the mantis power I need for the year. The purchased eggs are super problematic. Unless you live on a 20 acre farm, you can’t really support 200 mantises without them dipping into beneficials too. Also, I didn’t even know we had squash bugs in the west since I hadn’t ever seen one! 😬 Off to check my plants now...

[@NextLevelGardening]

True about the mantis. And no we don't have squash bugs here but I needed to cover it for the rest of the world. We're lucky. So far!

[@doubles1545]

They are in New Mexico. Not sure how far west you are, but I consider NM pretty far west. I fought squash bugs in two different rental homes in Albuquerque.

[@Peldyn]

I am in the high desert of California and we definitely have squash bugs here

[@Cashelda]

Live in Nevada and we also have squash bugs I'm currently dealing with.

[@juliemcgugan1244]

Luckily, I found an area near where I live, where there are loads of mantises, so when they laid eggs in the Autumn, I took some stalks of long wild grasses, where they had built a few nests. When Spring hits, here, they will hatch a lot of baby mantises! There should be lots in each nest, so three nests should be plenty for my property and if there is a shortage for some reason, I can always add a nest or two next Autumn. If there are too many, my neighbour has a full line of hibiscus that suffers very badly from mealy bugs, so there should be plenty to feast on, there! The line of hibiscus are easily 60 meters long.

[@madmama3299]

I am pleased i chose a few repellent plants for those wicked little things. I didnt even know as i bought them for general bug control. I also will be grinding up cayenne pepper to give a try. ANYTHING other than squashing them by hand which is what ive been doing for 2yrs. Lol Everything organic

[@paytonbabyful]

Which repellant plants do you use?

[@madmama3299]

@@paytonbabyful i used sage, spearment, lavendar, hellebore, thyme, lemon grass,chives, salvia, marigold,oregano, cilantro, purple basil, hot basil,dill.

[@johnjude2685]

I'm in zone 6 Columbus Ohio. Squash boring moths a already done it's damage Tomorrow video just going to be to late as I saw that killer making stops weeks ago , However better late than never. I'm going to check out the Dr.'s video and thanks for giving the credit to the other you tube teachings. Good help, Thanks

[@johnjude2685]

Opss later I noticed that you did the video a month ago, So you did send it out at a good time,Now I got to find your squash moth video Thank you for the teaching Sir

[@kedeglow2743]

I get so excited when I find those Praying Mantis egg packages around the garden and yard, and I tell anyone who comes here to leave them alone!

[@natureluvr_d7186]

Do you have a video that addresses fertilizing the fruit on zukes? Last year I had to hand fertilize my zucchini. I'm not sure what's going on with the bees but I have very few bumble bees and pretty much zero honey bees. IF I COVER my zucchini plant won't that prevent the few bees I have from fertilizing them? I have a mix of ripe zukes and mushy unfertilized zukes because I don't always have time to fertilize them before the flowers close up. I've tried prying the closed flowers open but can't tell if that works or not. I'm going to get some of that Dr. Bronners and watch the video you refer to also. I only have one zuke and it's growing in a huge planter that's about 24 inches high, on the patio, so I can keep looking for bugs, prune it, etc. Compared to my other veggies, I feel like I spend way too much time on trying to get one zuke plant to produce well and protect it from bugs. Thanks

[@StefaniStevensBand]

Thank you!!! I will get the soap. Now, I found little holes in my petunias. BT, neem oil? So many pests love petunias, I’ve been reading. Even mules, lol! I Have not seen any in Oceanside lately so I won’t worry about them.

[@myshuda1]

Thank you for making this video

[@NextLevelGardening]

You're welcome!

[@jojokan4545]

Just saw couple of those in my squash plant & I hozed them towards outside of the plant 😏 I'll try thses tricks when spotted next time ....thanks!!!

[@NextLevelGardening]

You're welcome!

[@sunshineinfla222]

They said thanks for the free bath!

[@0585ccook]

Ugh last year I thought I was ready for them, alas, I was defeated yet again. I think if nothing works this year I'm just going to skip it next year and see if that helps. I'll definitely give these ideas a try though. I'd try just about anything at this point.

[@Nancy-zk9dj]

This year, I've been checking for eggs regularly, scraping them off and drowning the pretty little things. I'm always seeing the adult squash bugs too (mostly they're boinking 🤨) they get squashed. I want to try the injections. Thanks for this!

[@janicetaylor7634]

Wish I had seen this 2 hours ago..found a svb in my peach tree..I wasn’t sure ..thought maybe it was a lightening bug. Dang it! Thanks for the info🌸

[@dddpvt]

put the bug between two blocks of wood and strike hard with a mallet?

[@babysteprecord2168]

Good Work 👍

[@MadebyMe3]

I live in Maine and it's been in the negatives at night and they are alive in the house.... not daily but we still see them from time to time.

[@CS-en5xz]

My squash plant is huge. I had an early issue from vine borers early and stopped them with bt. Got my 1st 2 zuch and have 4 more still growing. Just pulled one of these suckers off my plant last night but i dont think theres many of them. Also have at least 10 toads in my garden so i think theyre taking care of the smaller ones

[@sagepreaumx9903]

I don't get the yellow warning and they always kill the entire plant, even the big ones. And I don't think they came from garden debris, the entire yard has been sand and a heavy layer of stones for years prior to this year (baking in the sun). BUT this year is the 1st year I beat them! I discovered them early on and hand picked the adults (fed them to the chickens) and examined leaves for eggs. After three days they were gone! This has never happened before, I am so thankful.

[@sheiladoherty919]

Great timing! I just noticed creepy squash bugs this week on my zucchini. Yuck!!

[@julanaortiz5411]

I use the sticky side of duct tape to the under side of the leaves to remove the eggs. It works great and doesn’t damage the leaves. I’ve also used an old Tupperware tea bag squeezer I got on eBay to squash the squash bugs (kind of therapeutic after awhile 😂). But I’m going to try the Castile soap this year.

[@karen_james]

I have these little buggers, no pun intended, all over my broccoli and cucumbers. Great solution. Will definitely give it a try.

[@almostoily7541]

I had luck with the silver mulch. It also seemed to help the tomatoes and squash grow a bit faster than the ones in the next row without the mulch. The bugs went to the nonmulched plants first. As the plants grew and the mulch was shaded so didn't reflect as much sun, they did eventually find their way. However, by then, I had picked a lot off the other plants and they weren't as bad as earlier. I didn't buy the expensive silver garden mulch. Instead I bought the silver roll insulation in the building section of the hardware store. I put it away every year and it lasted a long time. Some I left out around some berry plants and it lasted several years outside. Until I caught the edge with the mower. That was a mess 😂 I did that when I had a farm stand. The squash and tomatoes on the mulch ripened faster. Not enough that you would notice if you weren't keeping notes or had some growing regular side by side. But if you are in a short climate, it may be worth while to you.

[@beckymorris6292]

I have tried Castile soap and several different essential oils that came highly recommended. I had the eggs on almost all my plants. I rarely see the adult bugs. I took an old kitchen knife to remove them and just squeezed them. I have tried Neem oil and Diatomaceous earth. Nothing seems to work. We usually pull up plants and burn at the end of the year so we dont have the eggs .

[@candacethompson2521]

Thanks for info

[@cherylwells5457]

I’m sorry you didn’t mention examining the leaves of the squash plants often to inspect for eggs - easy to see clusters, which can be scraped off easily with a fingernail into a container for disposal, or if you must, that small section of leaf with eggs can be torn away and discarded

[@natureluvr_d7186]

I prune my zuke so the few bees I have can see the flowers. I'm sick of hand fertilizing the flowers. If I see the bugs, I cut that leaf off and smash the guts out of the bug and eggs. I had a big infestation years ago and I ended up pulling up my plant, digging the roots out and pouring/mixing Sevin into the ground because I could see bugs and eggs under the soil and I hate to use Sevin or any chemicals in my garden or lawn but when it's infested really bad I didn't know what else to do. Now I know to search DAILY and stay on top of things.

[@kayecaban5324]

Thank you

[@jthor3097]

Last year I had a terrible squash bug infestation. I used lemon dish soap and it killed the bugs within 30 seconds. It was great. It was still really hard to keep up with them though. But remember that the soap WILL KILL BENEFICIAL BUGS also. Only spray before pollinators come out for the day and try to avoid other good guys.

[@conniec4936]

Okay, last year I torched a bunch! This year I squished 3 adults and two batches of eggs on leaves on about 20 plants. Then I sprayed the plants with soapy water. (1 tsp dish soap per quart water) I love the idea of vacuuming the bugs if the soapy water doesn't work!

[@playnejayne5550]

Back in the day, the claims of the Dr. Bronner's label left me wondering about Essene birth control. I aged my skin 10 years while using duct tape to peel off eggs and nymphs. One year I gave up. The plants were brown and dead. Or so I thought. Then we got 3 days of heavy rain. The plants turned green and the harvest was great. Some vines were 50 feet long. Lesson: Squash bugs don't like water. Now I flood the entire area. Bugs hop on top of the leaves, where I pick them off and stomp them. Not as tedious as it sounds.

[@lulubaker8480]

THANK you so much. I have given up on growing squash 😭

[@annharlan8926]

I'm 65 (gardening since I was a kid) living in NC. I tried wrapping the stem in aluminum foil and once the stem outgrew the foil, they laid eggs farther up and I lost the zucchini. Thanks for the tips.

[@josephgarcia4468]

Great info ! I hit my leaves with dr.bronners soap every few nights and a spray from mammoth P called can control ! Also hit the leaves with neem works great 👍🏻 Dr.Bronners soap 🧼 for the kill

[@NextLevelGardening]

Great!

[@RainbowWarriorChris]

Thanks man

[@gisela4582]

One quick question: what syringe size and needle size works best?

[@juliangonzalez3749]

Clean up garden debris. But a lot of insects overwinter in debris like lady bugs is it worth removing beneficial insects too?

[@JubeeBijou]

Just great. I used pine straw as mulch. Maybe that explains why I never got one yellow squash and only a handful of zucchini. :/ Between these bugs and vine borers - I lost big time. Just this afternoon I found a borer in one of my pumpkin vines.

[@janethelmick1959]

This is the first year I have seen these buggers on my plants..and they are bold!. They look at you and sneak away knowing you are trying to get them. I removed all the leaves that had eggs and put them in soapy water, squished a few more....but there is at least one more damn bug that has gotten away. I put sevin on the roots and leaves...and they have no effect on them. Going to try your method.

[@ItsAlwaysSummer]

Thanks Brian! I need all dead squash bugs. I hate them and they freak me out. Going to do the cardboard then smother them all with the soap!

[@OK2A4Liberty]

How do the Summer Squash pollinate if they are covered with bug netting? Or will they pollinate if they are enclosed in netting?

[@carlsonmtt898]

Thanks

[@Jennifer33333]

I had no idea that leaf pattern (white specks) was from the squash bugs!

[@rociovaldez-jardine7537]

Would the oil also kill pollinators? I am so sick of picking squash bugs! I also use rolling tape to pick the eggs and the babies, is so much easier.

[@verreedoiron183]

I use a pump 1 gallon sprayer and mix Dawn blue original dish detergent and water and spray those creams and it kills almost on contact

[@Cladman3001]

What about soaking the ground around the plants with a soap and borax solution or soap and baking soda solution?

[@shortermama8099]

any scent of Bronner's or does it have to be lavender? I only have unscented here, but if I need to go out for a different kind I can ( or I can add lavender EO).

[@maine-raye8006]

I'm so glad you mentioned not to buy a ton of praying mantis!!!

[@jimsaltsman6851]

Does Bronners mix with neem oil well? Will it emulsify neem properly like dish soap does?

[@incremental42]

Yes, it's just natural soap.

[@battyrice]

How often can you use this spray on your plants? Should there be a certain window if time in between? Just don’t want to harm my pumpkins… and should I rinse my plants in between?

[@annburge291]

Don't squash squash bugs because you will attract new ones by the smell. Instead fill a jar with soapy water and knock the bugs into it using a shop towel in your other hand. Tear off the bit of leaves with bug eggs and place them also in the soapy water. Watering the soil makes the bugs climb upwards. Check tree trunks near by. Leave the jar with a lid screwed on for a couple of days. Dig a hole and dispose of the bug soup. Cover with lots of dirt.

[@gaildunn8047]

If you leave them covered all season how do they pollinate?