Oddly enough, even though the grasshoppers are in epidemic numbers by the really dry days of summer, they don't do a lot of harm to my veggies or flowers. Maybe they prefer weeds????

Ducks and chickens are a good idea, but they like tender seedlings and fruit and some veggies too, so they have their own drawbacks. Chickens also scratch in the dirt, sometimes damaging or killing young plants.

Jeanne

Thanks Jeanne, Yes I had thought about the chicken's scratching, and since I will have a lot of roses, etc, with mulch, I hate to have the chicken's always scratching it out. I hope the grasshoppers will stick to other plants, but last year I moved several containers of herbs that they ate in several hours!

This is what my Dad says (he's done graduate work in this area so I trust his advice, but haven't tried it since I don't have a grasshoppers problem) -- use soil aerating shoes (or some sort of shoes with lots of sharp pointies) and stomp around in your lawn -or- get your soil aerated.

:)

There is a good microbial insecticide that only affects grasshoppers and crickets. The protozoan Nosema locustae is sold under the names NOLO Bait, Grasshopper Spore, and others. This can be effective if you put it out early in the season, when you first see the tiny grasshoppers. It is not very effective on the big ones. Grasshoppers are cannibalistic and will eat dead ones, thus spreading the disease themselves. As it is perishable, you should try to order it when you think you will need it although it can keep for a while in the refrigerator.

Here is a link that might be useful: NOLO Bait