Any new cutworm remedies out there?

[walleye]

I've got cutworms in my soil pretty heavy. Just a random raking of the surface will turn up a cutworm or two. All new transplants get a cardboard collar for protection at planting time (if they don't get a collar, the cutworms usually kill the plant within a day). I also sometimes use a shishkabob stick poked in right next to the stem to prevent the cutworm from sawing through. That method is not foolproof, as they sometimes still find a way. I've also mixed liberal amounts of crushed oyster shells into the beds, thinking that the sharp edges would discourage the beasts. Again, not working, the cutworms are as plentiful as ever.

The methods above are very labor intensive. If I were to take this garden to the next step and make a commercial venture out of it, I'd need an extra person just to install all those collars! As near as I can tell, my concentration of cutworms seems to increase every year. I looked into milky spore a few years ago and it was way too expensive for a 40 X 80 garden, let alone anything larger.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

[drobinson]

You might try importing a family of moles! Just kidding. What has worked for me are the following. Aluminum foil cut into squares and wrapped around the seedling when you set it out. Cut the bottom out of a paper cup and push it down around the plant. This makes a nice reservoir for watering until the plant until it gets
too big for the worms. Till, till, till. Cutworms don't like to be turned up very often.
Also, the worms love sod and new ground that is freshly tilled sod is usually full of
cut worms. Keep your garden spot clean for one full year, and till just before a freeze if the soil will permit. Spray the seedlings with garlic spray. Repeat often. Finallhy, if all else fails, plant extras for the worms. My father used to say, "Plant one for the worms, one for the birds, and one for you."

[terrianne]

I typed in cutworm remedies on Google. Diatomeous earth, birds, nematodes, mulching...there are many remedies to try. I have seen a cut worm or two...they don't stand a chance...I have the bird feeders and bird houses all around the garden. Birds are without a doubt the best garden helpers and will keep your garden pest free.

[Horsea]

I know that the collars are a lot of work (cutting all those yogurt containers & then stapling them) - you said so yourself - but, for me, nothing has ever been so effective. And the collars made of above mentioned type materials last one year to the next.

[walleye]

I'm resigned to using the collars. I used a lot of toilet paper tube collars this year and plan to switch to a different material as much as possible next year. The birds and red squirrels like to pull those cardboard collars out and chew on them or use them for nesting material. So switching to recycled plastic piping and yogurt containers (daughter loves to make yogurt smoothies) is in the works. You are right, they should last for years.

I see Gardens Alive has a new spray on remedy for cutworms and caterpillar-type pests. Supposedly it only affects worms that are eating your plants.

On another forum, someone pointed out that tilling in the early spring and fall will disturb the cutworm eggs and reduce the infestation. It's probably no coincidence that my cutworm problems got worse after I went no-till! It was also pointed out that spraying milky spore, while expensive, is cost effective when viewed from the perspective that without it, a small farmer would have to hire an entire extra person just to make and install all those cutworm collars!

I have an entire family of bluebirds guarding my garden now, so insects don't stand much of a chance. The cutworms work at night though, and they are almost never exposed when the bluebirds are around, so they can't help me much there. My cutworm problem is over for this year, as the plants are all too big and tough for them now. Also, I believe most of the worms have turned into moths by now.

[Horsea]

Okay - start saving all your plastic containers and coffee cups in a big box, and by Christmas you can start cutting & stapling!

[ceresone]

want lots of birds guarding your garden? plant sunflowers!! i put a row in at each end of my garden last year. i had bumblebees, honeybees, and birds so thick they didnt even fly when i walked thru the garden--even hummingbirds!and virtually no bugs !!

[GrannieB]

I start my tomato seeds in styro-foam coffee cups,write the variety and date seed sewn on the cup. When it's time to plant out, cut off the bottom inch or two of the cup,plant it but not so deep the cutworms can get in and plant info can still be seen. Cup doesn't blow away or get yanked out but squirrels or my blasted dogs and last all season. :cool:

[lextra]

A little "old" lady that lived next to me some years ago used to put large nails next to her tomatoes and said it prevented cut worm damage...I've used it for years and never had a problem with cut worms, I too have heavy clay soil and see quite a few when turning soil. I think it might be the rust from the nail that keeps them away...don't know but it really works.

[Pharmerphil]

I work neem granules into the soil early before planting, the residual abouts of active ingredient in the granules, put a crimp on the cutworms, keep the cucumber beetles from laying their eggs in the soil, and add a small dose of nitrogen.

[drobinson]

My Mom also used a nail by transplants to deter cutworms. She said they had to curl around the plant to cut it down and the nail prevented that. Don't know if thats the full reason nails work but it makes sense when you look at a freshly cut down plant and it is cut off square with the stem. If one nail works, two might work better. If you leave them in place until they rust, the iron in the rust probably also helps the plant to grow.

[GrannieB]

lextra,
I've heard of the nail method too. It's said that the cutworm has to wrap it's self around the stem in order to do it dirty little job and the nail prevents it from doing that. That's what I've heard anyway. Haven't tried it.

[GrannieB]

Whoops! :o I didn't see drobison's reply before I posted...silly me :rolleyes:

[paulh]

What are neem granules and where would I get them?

[tabitha]

tabitha swears by: take a dried egg shell crush it in your hand sprinkle it around the plant stem. it's good for the soil too.
our old-time organic gardener encyclopedia suggests the above collar method and a ring of ashes around the plant--then soak them with water.

karl-

[walleye]

I have tried using crushed oyster shells mixed into the soil around the plant thinking along the same lines as the eggshell method (i.e. "the sharp edges will injure the worm and it will die"). Well, that didn't help, but maybe I should have just piled a solid ring of shells on top of the soil, rather than mixing them in. The cutworms live in the soil, but always seem to come above ground to do their dirty work, so shells on top of the soil might be a more effective barrier.

At any rate, the calcium in either method should provide long term (certainly not quick though) soil benefits.

[Pharmerphil]

What are neem granules and where would I get them?
Paul, this is the link to the site, the company owners sister (Usha Rao)is the sales rep. And lives in the Twin Cities,I can hook you up with her direct, if you should choose. Met her through the Master Gardener program.
Neem (http://www.neemresource.com)

[tammyinmo]

I read that if you sprinkle cornmeal aroung your plants that the cutworms will eat it, can't digest it so they die. We have done this and found that it worked for us. :)

[TennOC]

Instead of using nails, use toothpicks. Slide one in carefully right next to the stem. It will last thru the cutworm season and rot away in one year, not like the nails. 2 is not better than one.

[deb65802]

Buy a few guinea hens. They will keep your garden free of pest and not scratch the ground up like regular chickens. If nothing else, Put up lot of bird houses and throw egg shells in the middle of your rows to encourage them into the garden. You can't buy help like that.

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi try 3 inch piece of pvc pipe or tunafish,cat or dog food can :)

[tomakers]

I have tried the collars, etc., but the best is a small stick (if it's free, it's for me) next to the stem. I have been using this for about 25 years and have never had a cut-off plant since I started doing it.

[walleye]

The stick/toothpick/shish-ka-bob skewer method sure does work for a lot of people. I used it last year myself and lost several plants when a red squirrel started stealing the toothpicks to chew up!

Plan of attack for this year:
1. Stick next to the seedling
2. Collar of yogurt container or PVC pipe around each (no cardboard collars, the squirrels pull those out and chem them up).
3. Wall-o-Water around that for the first couple weeks when frost is still a remote possibility.
4. 30 inch concrete wire cage around that. The cage protects nicely from deer until the plants are large enough where the deer don't care.

With each plant snuggly inside a veritable Fort Knox as described above, I'll bet I only lose a dozen seedlings this year. Let's see, gophers have never been a problem for me, so this is probably the year!