The spun fibers of row covers let in water, air, and light, but insects like squash bugs can’t penetrate the surface. If you’re working with taller plants, lay the row covers over hoops (which are available from a grower’s supply, home improvement store, or online), set 3 to 5 feet apart. Secure the edges of the fabric with dirt, bricks, rocks, or other heavy objects. Keep the insects away from your plants by covering crops with floating row cover material. Keep reading for three ways to deter squash bugs from your pumpkins, squash, and other gourds (also called cucurbits).
#Squash bugs how to
Photo: STEP 2: Prevent squash bugs from returning to your garden.Īfter following the methods listed above for how to get rid of squash bugs, home gardeners can take several precautions to prevent their return. Repeat this process every few days until all squash bugs are eliminated. The pests will get trapped and drown, ensuring that your harvest will remain undamaged throughout the season. If you find a handful of squash bugs on your plants, simply pick them off by gloved hand and flick them into a container of dish soap mixed with water. Otherwise, you may instead discover a new generation of destructive troops in your garden. Squash bug eggs hatch about every 10 days, so you need to check plants weekly for new batches. If you spot a group of the small, spherical eggs, scrape them off using a butter knife and dispose of them in the trash can. Remember: Squash bugs lay eggs in clusters on the undersides of leaves and at the crown of the plants, so be on the lookout.
If you discover squash bugs in your garden, follow one or more of these three methods to get rid of them. STEP 1: Remove squash bugs from your plants. Here’s how to get rid of squash bugs and keep them from harming your harvest in the future.
Mature bugs can be difficult to kill, but with a bit of diligence, homeowners can protect their prized pumpkins and savory squash from damage. If you spot squash bugs or their eggs on your zucchini or gourds, act quickly to prevent a full-blown infestation. The pests inject toxins into plants and suck moisture out of the leaves, causing them to wilt, blacken, dry up, and turn brittle. But squash bugs are their own evil entity. Their appearance, half-inch size, and even the unpleasant odor emitted when squished cause many homeowners to mistake squash bugs for stink bugs. If you pride yourself in growing your own pumpkins, cucumbers, squash, or other types of gourds, you might be familiar with this particular pesky garden nemesis. Squash bugs take root on the undersides of leaves or near the crown of the plant, where they’ll lay clusters of oval-shaped, copper-brown eggs.