To protect seedlings and tender transplants, here’s how to get rid of cutworms in your garden.
What Are Cutworms?
Cutworm caterpillars are the larvae of several species of moths.
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Because there are many varieties, they dont all look the same.
Both adult moths and larval cutworms are primarily nocturnal; however, the adults dont feed on plants.
Cutworm damage is sometimes confused with the damage caused byslugs and snails.
Credit:Jason Donnelly
Destroy any infected plant matter by burning it or bagging it and throwing it in the trash.
Typically, plant collars are made of 4-inch-long pieces of cardboard or aluminum foil.
Theyre partially sunk into the soil to loosely encircle plant stems.
roll out the collars when youtransplant the seedlingsinto the garden.
Remove them later in the season when cutworms are less active and the plants are well-established.
Experiment with companion planting.
Predatory insects arent the only critters that hunt cutworms; wild birds also love eating cutworms.
Cutworms are most active at night and hide in leaf litter and soil during the day.
No.Armyworms and cutworms look similar, but they are different creatures.
Cutworms tend to have more solitary feeding habits, while armyworms often feed in groups.
