In late spring, cutworms can devastate vegetable and flower gardens by mowing down tender seedlings at ground level. One way of protecting plants is with cutworm collars. Leela Devi of Texas recycles honey and peanut butter tubs for this purpose.
She says, “We buy bulk honey in clear plastic tubs with snap-on lids. They come in 16- and 32-oz. sizes. Cut the bottoms out of the tubs, and they make great cutworm collars for new transplants. Yogurt containers work, as well.”
Leela likes the plastic tubs because, in the event of a cold snap, the collar also can double as a mini greenhouse. All she has to do is pop on the lid. But you could also make cutworm collars from cardboard paper towel tubes.
As you slip a collar around a plant, press it into the soil so at least an inch of it is buried and at least 2 inches are above soil level. This way critters can’t crawl under or over the barrier.
Cutworms are hairless caterpillars that treat your garden like a midnight buffet. They move along from plant to plant, taking only a nibble or two from the stem of each one.
If you suspect your garden may have a cutworm problem, in addition to collars, you can also cultivate the soil in late summer and early fall to expose and destroy the larvae.
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