How to get rid of squash vine borers – 5 ways to protect your vegetable garden

The squash vine borer is a pest to look out for if you're growing zucchini, pumpkin, or squash in your yard. While the colorful moths may look attractive, their larvae feed on the leaves and stems of these veggies, causing significant damage.

Luckily, as with many pests, slugs included, there are ways to tackle these interlopers – many of which are chemical-free.

'The first step is to recognize the signs of a squash vine borer infestation,' says Alex Hale David, the Co-Founder of Pest Control Weekly. 'If your plants start wilting or turning yellow, or you see frass (sawdust-like excrement) near the base of your plants, you may have a problem.'

Once you spot it, don't despair. Try these expert-approved solutions and you may be able to save your crop – and prevent future infestations.

Alex Hale David

Alex Hale David is the Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of Pest Control Weekly. By hobby, he's a gardener and has experience dealing with all types of pests found in backyards, with both natural methods and pesticides.

5 ways to tackle squash vine borers in your garden

Try these tips in your vegetable garden for a healthy harvest.

1. Manually remove the grubs

'Manual control can be effective,' says Tony O'Neill, a gardening expert. 'Watch for signs of damage, such as wilting leaves, then slit the stem lengthwise where the borer entered and manually remove the pest.' Bury the damaged stem area in the soil after removal to promote re-rooting, he adds.

Alternatively, if you have a severe infestation, you can simply cut off any affected vines at the soil level and dispose of them, says Lindsey Hyland of Urban Organic Yield.

2. Introduce beneficial insects to your yard

Introducing natural predators like parasitic wasps can be an effective, eco-friendly alternative to using chemical pesticides, says pest-control expert Bill Swank. Alex agrees: 'These insects prey on the eggs and larvae of the squash vine borer, helping to control the population.'

You can shop them online, or in some garden centers. These predators can also be effective at tackling aphids. 

Bill Swank

Bill is the Founder of PestSource – a comprehensive hub for all things pest control. Not only this, but Bill is also a seasoned exterminator with over 30 years of experience in the field.

3. Use an organic insecticide

'Using organic pesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is another viable solution,' says Tony. You can apply it as a foliar and stem spray if the eggs haven't hatched yet. Timing is important with this method, as once the larvae have entered the stems, the spray won't be effective.

Be mindful that Bt can also harm the larvae of butterflies, so apply it carefully, away from butterfly host plants.

Bonide BT Thuricide Spray can be bought from Amazon.

4. Apply beneficial nematodes as a preventative measure

Once the squash vine borer larvae have feasted on plants for around a month, they bury themselves into the top layer of soil, where they spend the winter in cocoons. The moths then emerge the following year, when temperatures rise.

This means that beneficial nematodes – another natural predator – can be an effective way to target any overwintering pests. Simply mix the nematodes with water to create a soil drench (follow the packet instructions). 

They're a good option if you prefer organic gardening methods. Beneficial nematodes are also useful for tackling many other plant pests, including lawn grubs and thrips.

5. Cover young crops

Floating row covers are lightweight blankets for your plants, and they can be a very effective tool to prevent these bugs from laying eggs on your crops, says Alex. 'You can cover your squash plants with these from the time of planting until flowering begins.

'Remember, you'll need to remove them when plants start to flower so that pollinators can reach the plants.'

You can shop Agribon crop covers from Amazon, which are well-rated. Combine them with hoops to keep them off the leaves, which improves airflow and reduces the risk of powdery mildew.

You can also buy zipped covers (see below), that are well-suited to vegetables in containers.

FAQs

'A multi-faceted approach is often the best to effectively deal with squash vine borers,' says Tony – so try combining the tips above. And, as with any plant pest (or plant disease), action should be taken quickly should an infestation arise. So, keep checking your crops regularly throughout the summer for signs of issues, such as squash leaves turning yellow, to avoid these interlopers taking over – that way, you'll be able to enjoy delicious veggies for weeks on end.