Luckily, Holmes says these insatiable pests are relatively susceptible to insecticides, as well as some biological control agents. 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. Keep up on your lawn care tasks all year to keep these pests at bay.

Vigilance: Although cutworms are primarily a problem in early and late summer, they can harm lawns all through the growing season, Holmes says. Lawn care: Cutworm moths tend to lay eggs in high grass and weeds, so mowing regularly can deter an invasion. Dethatch when needed to limit the level in your lawn. But there are some things you can do to limit or stop their damage before it kills your lawn.Ĭontrol thatch : Cutworms like to hide in the thatch layer during the day, so controlling thatch can help prevent cutworm infestations, Holmes says. There is no pre-emergent treatment you can apply to a lawn to prevent cutworms, Holmes says. Recommended Reading: Humic 12 And Rgs How To Prevent Cutworms From Coming Back But, plants will suffer true damage to their growth and yield during seedling establishment or early head formation. Cabbage Plants can tolerate significant cabbage leaf loss without harm. If you notice hokes in your leafy green plants, dont be alarmed. What Is A Cabbage WormĬabbage worms have been discovered on a wide range of other plants in our garden, including flowers. Cutworms can damage lawns, as their feeding creates small spots in the turf that are more noticeable in manicured golf greens rather than in home lawns. Keep an eye out for cutworms on young tomato plants, asparagus, beans, cabbage, carrots, celery, corn, lettuce, peas, peppers, and potatoes. Because they can cut down young plants so quickly by moving up the plants and biting the buds, shoots, and foliage, they are called “cutworms.” Even though these adult moths do not damage crops, the larvae often destroy young plants by eating the stems at or near the soil line. Currently, she is a professor of Horticulture, an Education Specialist, and pest specialist.Ĭutworms are the larvae in caterpillar form of nocturnal moths. She is a board-certified entomologist and volunteers for USAIDs Farmer to Farmer program. Read Also: Is Peat Moss Good For Growing Grass Cutworms: Identifying And Getting Rid Of CutwormsĪmanda Rose Newton holds degrees in Horticulture, Biochemistry, Entomology, and soon a PhD in STEM Education.

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