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.

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[agnieszkaszczepanska]

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!

[juliewest]

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.

[beekervdubs]

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...

[redfoxfarmsms]

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!

[loriswain]

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

[gregwanee]

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

[sugarpop]

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.

[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!

[cathydavis]

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.

[mesmer]

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! 🤞

[curiouscat]

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.

[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.

[kayegeis]

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

[CVoyage]

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.

[deborahrusignuolo]

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

[joemccall]

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 YouTuber)!

[janetbrown]

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.

[annharlan]

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.

[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.

[mountaingran]

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.