Cutworms

BY: NHGC

It's a cruel April Fool's joke: Overnight, your seedlings are chomped down near ground level. It's probably the dirty work of cutworms. Cutworms are the larvae of various moths, and relatives of cabbage loopers and corn earworms. Cutworms love tender seedlings and transplants. These sneaky critters eat primarily at night.

To fight back, make a protective "collar" out of a paper cup, cardboard tube, or old can. Just sink it into the soil around a young transplant. Leave at least 2 inches of the collar above ground. Also, till the soil in autumn and again in spring. This may help kill the caterpillars, since the moths lay their eggs in late summer. You can also lay horticultural-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) around your plants. DE is available from garden centers; don't use the kind made for swimming pools. DE is made of sharp particles that soft-bodied insects can't crawl through without harm. Replenish DE after rains or watering, because it is often washed away.

As a last resort, use an insecticide that is labeled for use on cutworms, and always follow package directions carefully.

Comments

By goofy66 Wednesday, February 01, 2012 4:33 PM

If you can dam up your garden area, the first real heavy rain will
drowned the little critters. Let the water set for at least 12hrs.
When the water is drained off, you will see them all over the place.
You won't believe how many there are. I didn't!!

By gwendolyn16 Thursday, February 02, 2012 9:34 PM

I have heard that one can use crushed sea shells as well ( if you have some you want to recycle)

By jlilley101 Sunday, February 05, 2012 8:50 AM

I have used crushed egg shells. these will put calcium back into the soil.
I have also used spike nails inserted in the soil next to the stem leaving a couple of inches above the ground. these should be removed before fall tilling and saved for the next spring planting. the cut worm cannot cut the steel in two and cannot get its body around both the plant and the nail to cut the plant.

Post Comment

Only registered users may post comments.

All About Gardening

Cutworms

Comments

Post Comment

Features

	All About Gardening
Current Articles \| Archives \| Search Cutworms BY: NHGC 3 It's a cruel April Fool's joke: Overnight, your seedlings are chomped down near ground level. It's probably the dirty work of cutworms. Cutworms are the larvae of various moths, and relatives of cabbage loopers and corn earworms. Cutworms love tender seedlings and transplants. These sneaky critters eat primarily at night. To fight back, make a protective "collar" out of a paper cup, cardboard tube, or old can. Just sink it into the soil around a young transplant. Leave at least 2 inches of the collar above ground. Also, till the soil in autumn and again in spring. This may help kill the caterpillars, since the moths lay their eggs in late summer. You can also lay horticultural-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) around your plants. DE is available from garden centers; don't use the kind made for swimming pools. DE is made of sharp particles that soft-bodied insects can't crawl through without harm. Replenish DE after rains or watering, because it is often washed away. As a last resort, use an insecticide that is labeled for use on cutworms, and always follow package directions carefully. Comments By goofy66 Wednesday, February 01, 2012 4:33 PM If you can dam up your garden area, the first real heavy rain will drowned the little critters. Let the water set for at least 12hrs. When the water is drained off, you will see them all over the place. You won't believe how many there are. I didn't!! By gwendolyn16 Thursday, February 02, 2012 9:34 PM I have heard that one can use crushed sea shells as well ( if you have some you want to recycle) By jlilley101 Sunday, February 05, 2012 8:50 AM I have used crushed egg shells. these will put calcium back into the soil. I have also used spike nails inserted in the soil next to the stem leaving a couple of inches above the ground. these should be removed before fall tilling and saved for the next spring planting. the cut worm cannot cut the steel in two and cannot get its body around both the plant and the nail to cut the plant. Post Comment Only registered users may post comments.