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Exposed cutworms will curl into a "C." Some plants, such as tomatoes, peppers, and celery, will need to be checked regularly for cutworms from the time they're seedlings to maturity and harvest. Confirm their presence by using a trowel to overturn any clumpy soil near the damaged plants. Keep an eye out for plant remnants on the ground near their stems, plants cut off near the ground, or wilted plants, which are all signs of cutworm feedings. In the mornings, check plants while the damage would be fresh. Till your garden in autumn to kill any larvae or pupae in the soil. If using on edible vegetation, make sure you don't use pesticide too close to harvesting time, but read the product's label for full directions. Or, only apply evening doses of pesticide with carbaryl, cyfluthrin, and/or permethrin for climbing cutworms if there is a big infestation. If you want to grow an organic garden, avoid using pesticides. The best contact insecticides for tomatoes contain cyhalothrin, esfenvalerate, and cypermethrin.
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Spread the bait on the soil near the affected plants and they will die from the fungus and become stuck in the molasses. Catch cutworms with bait made by mixing Bacillus thuringiensis, molasses, and grain.That should be enough of a barrier to stop the cutworms from grabbing onto the plants. Insert an item so that about 2 inches can be placed down into the soil and the another 2 inches sits above the soil protecting the plant. Protect delicate transplants with 4-inch-wide collars made of cardboard, tin cans, aluminum foil, or toilet paper rolls.Use compost in your garden soil, not manure, because egg-laying tends to occur in green manure.
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Take away any plant residue and weeds, both of which are attractive environments for young cutworm larvae to hide in during the day (some can survive in weeds through the winter).Build a 3- or 4-foot-high edge of dry soil to buffer your garden beds and prevent cutworms from entering the area.You can also crush them before drowning them. Kill them by preparing a bucket of soapy water with liquid dish detergent and drop them into the water to drown.Manually remove larvae from plants with your fingers or sterilized tweezers.The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
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