I wanted to highlight a section of that document...
The best method for control is prevention through sanitation. Remove old cucurbit plants after harvest. Keep the garden free from rubbish and debris that can provide overwintering sites for squash bugs. At the end of the gardening season, compost all vegetation or thoroughly till it under. Handpick or vacuum any bugs found under wooden boards. During the growing season, pick off and destroy egg masses as soon as you see them. Use protective covers such as plant cages or row covers in gardens where squash bugs have been a problem in the past and remove covers at bloom to allow for pollination.
Plowing really helps control insects and weeds and we plow throughout the growing season. For instance in this first pick taken in early June, the area with the black X. That area had cabbages, early plants. As soon as they quit producing they get plowed under. Still have plants on either side.
Even though the cabbages were plowed under weeds aren’t allowed to grow the rest of the summer. Dad or I will run a gang disc through that area every couple of months so any weeds that grow won’t be allowed to go to seed or provide a home for insects.
These two were taken in October, the last in November. When the garden is done and any seed harvested the whole garden will be plowed under. Other years it might be later if we have a lot of leaves in the yard. We’ll spread the leaves over the garden, might be plowed under, some years they’ll be burned and then plowed. Plowing or burning are both are good for the soil and do a good job of keep bugs and weeds under control.
