cutworm are the soil - dwelling larvae of several different coinage of moth . They feed on the cutter seedling stalks of many different plant , including lots of vegetable and flower . You ’ll have intercourse they ’re in your garden when you come out in the morning only to strike severed or girdled and wilted seedlings . Thankfully , with a few tricks , it ’s comfortable to prevent cutworm damage in the garden .
What Are Cutworms?
Cutworm caterpillars eat primarily at night , and young , newly transplanted seedling are the most vulnerable . Gardeners will occasionally labor up a 1- to 2 - in - tenacious , green or dark-brown cat when work in the garden . When disturbed , the cat curve into a “ cytosine ” shape .
Though these insects can wreak havoc on a newly planted veg or bloom garden , there ’s an easy way to prevent cutworm damage without having to fall back to chemical soil drenches . If cutworms have provoke your garden in the yesteryear , protect your transplants with one of these five household items .
1. Cardboard Tubes
As shortly as you settletomato , pepper , sunflower and other transplants into the dirt , surround each of them with a 3 - in - marvelous part of cardboard tube from a toilette paper or report towel roll . To train the paper thermionic valve , cut it into 3 - in sections and dissever it open lengthwise . Slip a thermionic vacuum tube section around each graft , making certain the bottom of the tube is nuzzle into the dirt by an column inch or so . Cutworms travel just below the stain surface , so this prevents the cutworm from accessing the plant stalk .
2. Toothpicks
To fully deaden or sever a seedling , the cutworm cat must have admission to the intact circumference of the seedling ’s stem . Insert three to five toothpicks vertically around each graft , keeping them snugly against the stems and spacing them at an equal distance . The toothpick keep the cutworm away from the stem .
3. Pencils And Used-Up Pens
Another easy way to prevent cutworm damage is to tuck an old pencil or playpen on either side of the seedling , making sure it ’s pissed against the prow . practice two pencil or pen per seedling . Again , the pencil or playpen prevents the cutworm from jaw away the full perimeter of the plant stem turn . When the seedling stem turn is as thick as your pollex , you could move out them . The same penitentiary and pencils can be used for several years .
4. Metal Cans
you’re able to also use alloy crapper to preclude cutworm damage . only remove both end of the can and drop away one can over each transplant , being sure to insert the bottom remainder of the can down into the grease by at least an inch . The cans can be left in place all season long , and as an add bonus , if you coat them with spray glue and a level of coarse moxie , they ’ll also keepslugsfrom crawl up onto your plants .
5. Yogurt Cups
If you eat a lot of yogurt at your home , there are lots of ways you’re able to repurpose the single - serving plastic cup . I use them to grow seedling and I trim down them into piece and utilize them to mark my plants . But they also make corking cutworm collars . To use them to prevent cutworm damage , remove the bottom of each cupful and slip it over the plant , again making trusted that the foot of the cup is nestled into the earth by an inch or so . Like cans , the yogurt cups can be left in space all season long . you may also surface them in vulgar moxie to foreclose clout , too , as refer above .
Jessica Walliser
Jessica Walliser
Jessica Walliser
Jessica Walliser
Jessica Walliser
