You’ve watered, weeded, mulched, and maybe even whispered kind things to your plants. And now, just when everything’s finally growing like it means it… BAM. Out of nowhere come the freeloaders: bugs that bite, bore, suck, and wilt your hard-earned progress.
This week we’re calling out some of the sneakiest summer garden pests — who they are, when they show up, what damage they do, and how to deal with them without setting your whole ecosystem on fire.
Leaf-Footed Bugs: The Quiet Juice Thieves
What They Are:
Long-legged, shield-shaped insects with leaf-like flares on their back legs. They love tomatoes, okra, beans, and pomegranates.
When They Show Up:
Early summer through fall.
Damage Done:
They pierce fruit and suck out juices, leaving behind yellow, sunken spots. It's annoying more than deadly, but enough to ruin a good crop.
What To Do:
Catch nymphs early — they’re bright red and easier to control.
Hand-pick and drop them in soapy water.
Use row covers early in the season.
Sunflowers make a great trap crop.
Skip the heavy chemicals — they don’t work well and harm beneficial insects.
I like The University of California’s IPM plan for these guys
🐛 Squash Vine Borers: Death From Within
What They Are:
Larvae of a moth that looks like a flashy red wasp but acts like a saboteur.
When They Show Up:
Late June through July.
Damage Done:
They bore into squash stems and feast from within. One day: thriving plant. Next: wilted, rotting mess.
What To Do:
Remove eggs from stems when you spot them.
Use yellow sticky traps to catch the adults.
Use row covers before flowers appear.
Perform “stem surgery” and bury the cut section to re-root.
Rotate your crops each year to avoid repeat offenders.
I also just stop growing squash and zucchini if they get these pests. Ill replant closer to fall just to avoid their life cycles.
for more info check out the university of Michigans extension site.
🕵️♀️ Other Sneaky Invaders
🐞 Aphids
Tiny sap-suckers that multiply like gossip at a garden club.
Spray them off or bring in ladybugs. Plants like dill or yarrow help invite the good bugs.
🐌 Slugs & Snails
Late-night munchers. You’ll see the damage before you see them.
Try beer traps, copper tape, or flashlight patrols with a bucket and salty attitude.
🕷 Spider Mites
Thrive in dry heat, leaving pale spots and fine webbing.
Spray with water, mulch well, and keep humidity up to slow them down.
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🍋 Coming Up Next: Backyard Brews — Winged Elm Lemonade & Friends
Get ready for a refreshing twist: we’re diving into foraged drinks. Next week, I’ll show you how to make a citrusy summer “lemonade” from winged elm inner bark — and pair it with a wild companion like smooth sumac or bee balm tea. No sugar bombs, no sketchy powders — just clean, cooling, native plant magic.