The best ways to prevent summer infestations naturally

Hint: It's NOT with pesticides

Protect squash and cucumbers from vine borers with mesh fabric. (Jessica Damiano)

Hi, guys!

Happy Father’s Day to all the great Weekly Dirt dads reading! Lay off the garden chores today and relax with a cool drink — you deserve it!

Have you noticed it’s been getting buggy out there lately? At night, when the porch light is on, I have to strategize quick ways to open the door and zip inside without letting in the convention of moths, spiders, gnats, beetles, fireflies and beetles that congregate there.

The good news is I haven’t seen a single red scarlet lily beetle in the garden. And that’s because I spent a few minutes every day for a week or so last year knocking them off my lily stems into a container of soapy water, then flushing them down the toilet.

It’s the most effective way to deal with them, and the best part is there are no chemicals involved, which is best for plants, beneficial insects, people, pets, wildlife and your wallet.

And lilies aren’t the only plants you can protect naturally.