Call it the Perfect Storm -- incessant rain, insufferable humidity, and intense heat. Although we might not be thrilled with this climatic combo, bugs love it, and as a result their numbers are skyrocketing. Unfortunately, writing about every bug that preys on plants would require far more space than I’m allowed. Instead, what follows are my suggestions for preventing pests in the first place, knowing all the while that come what may, bugs are here to stay.

When a plant’s health is less than ideal, it’s more prone to attack by pests and diseases. That’s why it’s crucial to maintain healthy, vigorously growing plants. First and foremost, that means planting them in the right spot, then making sure they get the sunlight they need, that the soil is routinely amended and mulched, and that their water and nutrient needs are met.

One of the most effective ways to keep bugs in check is to monitor their numbers by examining your plants routinely, paying particular attention to the undersides of leaves where bugs like to hide and lay their eggs. You don’t necessarily have to spray at the first sign of invasion, because there’s always a chance that beneficial bugs will come to the rescue.

But if the pests continue to proliferate and you see obvious signs of damage on leaf surfaces, then you might want to take action. Those signs vary depending on the bug, and more specifically the bug’s mouthparts. Some -- caterpillars and grasshoppers, for example -- have chewing mouthparts, and the damage they do is pretty obvious. Aphids and spider mites have sucking mouthparts and are in a way more sinister because they literally suck the life out of plants and the damage they do isn’t always as readily apparent.

Spraying everything in sight is one of the worst things you can do, because in an attempt to control a particular pest you run the risk of killing off the aforementioned beneficials. And upsetting the balance between pests and beneficials can be disastrous. The trick is to target the pest in question and spray only the plant that’s being attacked, ideally with a product that’s formulated to control a specific pest. For example, Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) only targets caterpillars.

In many cases, you may think you’ve achieved control of a particular pest after spraying only once, but because it’s not always easy to get 100% coverage of all leaf surfaces, a second and perhaps even a third application -- each spaced 7 to 10 days apart -- may be necessary.

Though their lives may be short (as short as a few minutes, in fact) certain bugs can do a lot of damage to plants in as little as a day. But deciding how best to control them can be a daunting task. Sure, you could do a search and get 16 different answers to your specific question -- including potentially harmful homemade concoctions -- or you could just drop by our Solution Center and let the folks there tell you exactly what you need, whether you prefer an organic or synthetic “solution.” If you bring in a picture or a leaf sample it’ll make the diagnosis easier.

Then again, if you already know what you need, feel free to shop for it online.

When buying liquid pesticides, you’ll likely encounter three options: Concentrate, RTS, and RTU. Concentrates require mixing with water in a tank or handheld sprayer before spraying, but they also tend to be the cheapest way to go. RTS stands for “Ready to Spray,” which means you need to attach your hose to the bottle before spraying. The water from the hose mixes with the contents of the bottle and applies the pesticide at the proper dilution rate. RTU, or “Ready to Use” is just that. The product is premixed by the manufacturer, and all you have to do is squeeze the trigger.

I've written several posts about bugs over the years. Here are three you might want to read:

Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance. They also happen to be the deadliest animal on the planet, responsible for 700,000 deaths worldwide. And recent rains have brought them out by the millions.

This is one of my favorite posts. In it, I explain how aphids can actually be born pregnant!

They’re certainly popular, but just how effective is releasing “good bugs” into your garden?

Given that they were once considered vile, disgusting, unfit for human consumption…and even poisonous, how did tomatoes become so incredibly popular worldwide? Find out next week.