Beware the Cutworm

Understanding the life cycle of problem insects, can help us to improve control over them. Last winter, & this winter, the snow fell and stayed early & insulated the soil before the ground was as frozen as usual. More cutworms than usual survived, good for them...not for us. "Cutworm" is an umbrella term under which many types of plant feeding larvae fall. They typically have only one generation per year, thank goodness. The adult moth lays eggs in grassy/weedy areas. Good reason to keep the garden clean. The larvae are night feeders, so you will not see them at work, but in the morning you will see 'their work.' The most obvious damage to the home gardener is the 'cutting' off of the plant right above ground level. They usually will be sleeping it off close to the plant. Immediately dig around in the soil to about a 2" depth near the damage and you can often find them, they blend in so look carefully!

This above photo is very typical of the damage. A good way to deter them: place a tiny stick right up against the plant at planting time, I mean right next to the stem. This will help stop them from breaking the plant off. You can use nails, collars etc, but then you have to come back and find all those nails or till them in. Tiny sticks? Till'em under, no problem. Some cut worms feed on plant roots, and some climb plants and chew them. They are getting us on every level!

Ways to combat them:

• spring & fall tilling will help to expose hibernating cutworms
• as soon as damage is noticed, dig around, find & destroy
• some soil drench chemicals & granulars are available, beware they chemical may kill earthworms (your #1 soil dwelling friend)
• keep areas weeded & grass mowed
• avoid debris piles near you garden, compost piles too!