A) Plant radishes when you plant the squash. Let the radishes grow to full size, the squash will accommodate itself.

b) Plant marigolds all through the patch. Apparently the marigold smell is stronger than the squash smell, which confuses the bugs.

c) Choose the squash variety carefully - some are more attractive to bugs.

d) Practice extreme cleanliness in the garden, removing/burying all debris which might contain the bugs' eggs.

e) In my experience, a heavy straw (not hay or leaf) mulch helps keeps the buggy numbers down.

f) If you raise vine squash, trellis them. I suspect this is an aspect of d) because trellised vines are far easier to keep clean and disease-free.

g) Use row covers: if the bug can't get to the squash, it won't be a problem.

Meldy nva, Thank you for the response. Coincidentally my wife planted radishes close to the squash as well as marigolds that are close on one side.This was done without knowing it would help with detering the squash bugs, so a happy coincidence.She mentioned that the squash plants by the marigolds have shown no bugs.She let the radishes go to seed and the plants are pretty tall. So far no major infestation, just 2-3 bugs found 2-3 times a week, but enough to keep her dance form in step.She keeps the garden clean, the squash plants trimmed and thinned and trains them to go up,not lay in the soil.The only things not tried are the straw and row covers which we will give a go if it becomes a major infestation like in past years.Thanks again for the response and advise. Mark & Barbara