Non-Chemical Management
- Control weeds and grasses in and near the garden.
- Remove debris around plants that provides shelter for cutworms.
- Hand-pick night-feeding larvae, when practical. Scratch soil at the base of damaged plants to find larvae in the daytime.
- Encourage natural enemies of cutworms and armyworms including birds, spiders, and predacious insects. Avoid use of broad-spectrum insecticides that kill beneficial insects.
- Plastic or cardboard collars extending 2" into the soil and 2" above the soil can be placed around individual plants or groups of plants. The barriers may help prevent attack.
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!