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There is one thing to keep in mind, though.
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Simply sprinkle a line of diatomaceous earth along the top of the bare soil border on the outside of your garden. If you want to level-up your garden defenses, pair this method with diatomaceous earth. According to the University of New Hampshire Extension, most cutworms lay eggs on the stems of plants (such as grass or weeds). They are also less likely to lay their eggs on this bare ground. They will risk dying in the sun or being eaten by birds that can see them clearly. Push the tube down about halfway into the soil to keep it in place.Ī bare soil border around your garden creates a dangerous wasteland for cutworms – one that they may hesitate to cross.Īny cutworms that want to feed on your plants will have to cross this barren wasteland. Then, take the cardboard strip and wrap it around the stem of the plant to form a cardboard “tube”. Cut the piece of cardboard into square strips (perhaps 4 inches long by 4 inches wide). The idea is that they wrap around the stem of a plant to keep cutworms away.Ī classic way to make a cutworm collar is to use cardboard. Cutworm Collars (Plant Collars)Ĭutworm collars are a protective barrier for your plants. Many of these methods are natural and do not require the use of any artificial chemicals. Let’s get into the steps you can take to protect your harvest from cutworms. Planning ahead to interrupt the life cycle of the cutworms is another way to keep them under control.
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You can also use natural or chemical insecticides. There are plenty of ways to get rid of cutworms on the plants in your garden and keep them from coming back.Ĭreating barriers to protect your plants is one possibility. If you can make the birds feel welcome, they might help you with your problem (more on this later). If you see them in your garden, there is a good chance that you have cutworms, or that you will in the near future.Ĭardinals like to feed on cutworms and other crawling creatures. Cutworms can be solid, but they can also have stripes or spots on their bodies. However, you may also see them in green, gray, or even pink. As mentioned before, you are most likely to see them in the dusk or evening hours.Ĭutworms come in many colors. You may also catch cutworms in the act of climbing up or chewing on your plants. There is even one variety (the glassy cutworm) that feeds on the roots
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Plant and feed on the fruit, buds, or leaves. Remember that in some cases, cutworms will also climb up a The only limit to the damage is how far the cutworm can travel in one night! If you are really unlucky, a cutworm will go down a row of plants, cutting off each one as it goes. Finally, it chewed at the stem until it cut all the way through, severing the top and most likely killing your plant. Then, it wrapped itself around the plant’s stem at the base.
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