You can get rid of grasshoppers, but it will take a bit of effort.
As summer winds down, some specific yard challenges are just heating up. From brown patches on the lawn to pesky bugs and grasshoppers, the end of summer can leave your outdoor space looking tired. Now is the time to tackle those problems head on so you can enjoy time outside all fall long.
Jerry Goodspeed, with USU Botanical Gardens, shared how to solve some common problems in the yard that come up this time of year.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is a common issue, especially on apple trees. You’ll notice leaves curling and a white powder resembling powdered sugar.
“If it’s on your perennials, don’t worry about it. But, if it’s on your trees, then you do need to to worry about it,” Jerry said.
Jerry said to spray it with a fungicide. You can find organic options and more traditional fungicides at nurseries.
Squash Bugs
Squash bugs are another headache. “They’re hard to control, to be honest,” Jerry said. You can pick them off manually or use a strong stream of water. You can also find organic and traditional insecticides.
The key is to spray under the leaves where they hide. “The trick is they’re usually underneath the leaf and we have a tendency to spray on top of the leaf,” Jerry explained. “So you’ve got to get around and get where they are.”
Summer Scorch
Dry lawns and yards are common from the summer heat. If you see brown edges on leaves, it means water isn’t reaching those areas.
Deep watering and adding mulch around plants can help. “Sometimes it’ll also help to put a little mulch around the plants or the trees so we don’t get so much evaporation and we keep more in,” Jerry emphasized.
Consistent deep watering can revive plants that are showing signs of stress.
Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot affects tomatoes and peppers, causing the ends to rot. The main cause is inconsistent watering.
“The biggest thing with that is to keep watering consistent if you can, especially with your vegetables,” Jerry emphasized.
Keeping the soil moisture consistent and using mulch can help prevent this garden problem.
Get Rid of Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers can be a significant problem, especially in bad years. “This is a bad year,” Jerry said. “We’re seeing a lot.”
They move quickly, making them hard to control. Using baits and insecticides in vacant lots and fields where they overwinter can help manage their population.
“Try to get together as a community,” Jerry suggested. “If there’s a vacant lot, that’s where they’re coming from. So try to control them in those areas.”
Find more gardening advice at extension.usu.edu/botanicalcenter.
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