Pest Patrol

Squish Squash Bugs Before They’re a Problem

The time to prepare for garden pests is before they arrive. This holds true for squash bugs, one of the most problematic insects for pumpkins and squash. Because they can be a challenge to eradicate once they’ve taken hold, it’s important to stay ahead of the game. Summer Squash: Growing Advice and Recipes How to ...

Handling the Dark Spotted Blister Beetle

Sometimes I’d rather not meet cousins, particularly when it comes to garden pests. This morning while turning on the water on my kale and keyhole garden, I noticed gray beetles over my kale and the floating row cover. They looked familiar, but the spots threw me. After a bit of research through Montana State University ...

What to do when box elder bugs want to stay for the winter

Autumn is a glorious time with bluebird skies, brilliantly colored leaves, and box elder bugs taking up their winter residence. While most people can probably scratch the last aspect of this season, seeing lots and lots of box elder bugs is pretty typical for a lot of people. Last week a friend sent me photos ...