I absolutely hate cutworms. Cutworms eat grasses and flowering plants. They aren’t a major threat to your lawn but they will destroy your flowers and other ornamental plants if left unchecked. The best insecticide for cutworm is the one that will kill them fast. If you ever planted seeds in the yard and noticed an unacceptable amount of crop loss, you might be battling cutworms. They are voracious feeders and can decimate a young crop before it has a chance to reach maturity. This can also lead to continuous damage during each cycle of planting. There are dozens of products available at most home and garden centers designed specifically to combat cutworm infestation. Which is best, and most successful? When it comes to cutworms, you do not want to mow your lawn. You also do not want to spray your garden with broad-spectrum insecticides. The best approach to control cutworm damage is to practice cultural control and use an insecticide that is selective in a localized area of the garden.
Best Insecticide For Cutworms
Introduction
On the surface, cutworms appear to be a type of harmless, if ugly, garden snake. Under that appearance is an insect that can cause serious damage to your plants and leaves. In this article, you’ll learn what cutworms are and what makes them so dangerous in your garden. You’ll also learn about the best insecticide for them and how to make your own insecticide to kill them with.
What Are Cutworms?
You may have seen cutworms in your garden or on your lawn. They are the larvae of moths, and they’re actually a type of caterpillar.
A cutworm is about 5 to 6 inches long when fully grown. Its body is soft and brown with a lighter underside, and it has several pairs of small legs along its back end that help it move quickly through soil or leaves when disturbed by movement nearby. Cutworms eat both living plants and seeds; they tend to prefer young plants because these offer softer tissue than older ones do.
What Kind Of Damage Do They Cause?
Cutworms can cause damage in a variety of ways. They can kill seedlings and young plants by chewing through the stems or roots of the plant. They may also eat stems and leaves, which can weaken or kill young plants.
How Do You Know If You Have A Cutworm Problem?
What are cutworms? They’re green caterpillars that feed on the leaves and stems of plants. These pests emerge from the soil to eat, usually at night. It’s important to know what they look like so you can identify them if one turns up in your garden or backyard. Most people think of caterpillars as being long and thin with a horn at the end of their body, but cutworms have a different shape altogether: they’re flat, oval-shaped creatures with brownish-gray coloring (hence their name).
How To Get Rid Of Cutworms
Cutworms are a serious problem for gardeners, as they can wreak havoc on the vegetable plants you’ve spent so much time cultivating. Thankfully, there are many effective ways to get rid of cutworms so you can continue growing delicious vegetables and flowers in your garden.
The most important thing to remember when treating cutworms is timing. Cutworms are most active at night and will hide in the soil during the day; therefore, it’s best to apply insecticide in the evening so that it is more likely that they will come into contact with it during their nightly feeding activities.
Cutworm insecticides can be applied directly to the soil or around specific plants so that when the plant grows up through it, any cutworm larvae within reach will be killed immediately upon contact with the chemical agent inside them (if this happens). A third option would be applying an insecticidal dust around leafy parts where cutworm larvae might hide themselves once they have hatched from eggs laid by adult moths earlier in summer; however this method may not work if you don’t know exactly where these insects could potentially be hiding out!
Homemade Insecticide To Kill Cutworms
To control cutworms, use a homemade insecticide:
- Combine an insecticide with a bait to kill cutworms. Wear gloves and apply the mixture to the soil before planting. Use as much of this mixture as you think you’ll need to kill all of the worms in your garden area, since once they’ve eaten it they won’t be able to eat again for several days.
- Set up traps using either baits or lures that attract cutworms such as cornmeal or bread crumbs; once a cutworm eats these baits/lures, it will die within 48 hours because there will be no further food available for them during their short lifespan — which ranges from 1-3 weeks depending on weather conditions and other factors such as plant growth stages (starts small–grows larger).
Cutworms are quite easy to manage with the right insecticide.
You can apply insecticide to your plants with a sprayer, or you can use a watering can to apply the insecticide as a liquid.
Before applying any form of insecticide, read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly for best results.
Store unused insecticides in their original containers and out of reach of children and pets.
Bonide (BND60360) – Insect and Grub Control, Outdoor Insecticide/Pesticide Granules (6 lb.)
Price : $21.99
Features :
- INSECT KILLER – This pest control is great for use on species of ant, cricket, chinch bug, billbug, cutworm, earwig, flea, roach, grub, sod webworm, tick and other listed bug species.
- PROTECT YOUR LAWN AND HOME – Insect and Grub Control is designed for fast acting, long lasting control from invading species. Use outdoors, on lawns and around the foundation of the house. Not for indoor use.
- TOP TO BOTTOM PROTECTION – Product offers complete insect control for the soil and surface of your yard. It will kill insects both above and below the surface of your lawn.
- DUAL ACTION DEFENSE – Combines the systemic action of Imidacloprid with the fast acting insect control of Lambda-Cyhalothrin. This allows Insect and Grub to kill insects in 24 hours while providing soil and surface protection for up to 3 months.
- EASY APPLICATION – Granules should either be distributed as a barrier around the house foundation or spread throughout the lawn with a fertilizer spreader. Water lightly immediately after application.
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 15 Inches |
| Width | 14.8 Inches |
| Length | 3.8 Inches |
| Weight | 6 Pounds |
Bonide (BND806) – Caterpillar and Worm Killer, Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) Ready to Use Insecticide/Pesticide Spray (32 oz.)
Price : $13.54
Features :
- INSECT KILLER – This pest control is great for use on cabbage looper, hornworms, tent caterpillar, gypsy moth, bagworm and many more.
- PROTECTS FRUITS, VEGETABLES, SHADE TREES & ORNAMENTALS – Designed for use on broccoli, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, eggplant, pepper, melons, tomatoes, cabbage, shade trees and ornamentals.
- DOESN’T HARM BENEFICIAL INSECTS – Kills worms and caterpillar stage insects while causing no harm to birds, earthworms, or beneficial insects, such as honeybees and ladybugs.
- FAST ACTING FORMULA – Must be eaten by worms or caterpillars to be effective. After ingesting, bugs immediately stop feeding and will die within 2-3 days.
- ORGANIC GARDENING – The active ingredient of the product is a natural strain of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, which is a leading insecticide used worldwide. Approved for organic gardening, our product is safe for use around people and pets.
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 12 Inches |
| Width | 3 Inches |
| Length | 6 Inches |
| Weight | 2.33 Pounds |
| Release Date | 2021-11-10T00:00:01Z |
BioAdvanced Vegetable and Garden Insect Spray, Insecticide, 32-Ounce, Concentrate 701521A
Price : $17.54
Features :
- INSECT KILLER: Kills over 70 listed insects including Aphids, Caterpillars, Thrips, Tomato Hornworm, and Whiteflies
- PROTECT FRUIT & VEGETABLES: Protect fruits and vegetables from insect damage, for outdoor use
- EASY APPLICATION: Spray onto plant until leaves are evenly coated, but not dripping
- RAINPROOF PROTECTION: Rainproof in just 1 hour
- COVERAGE AREA: Treats up tp 5,333 square feet
Additional Info :
| Color | Plum |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 11.3 Inches |
| Width | 2.6 Inches |
| Length | 4.7 Inches |
| Release Date | 2011-05-23T00:00:01Z |
Monterey B.T. Insecticide Ready-to-Spray 32oz
Price : $23.99 ($0.75 / Fl Oz)
Features :
- Controls worms and caterpillars
- Use on vegetables, ornamental, shrubs, trees
- Easy to spray
- 32 oz. size container
- Biological insecticide
Additional Info :
| Color | White |
| Item Dimensions | |
| Height | 9 Inches |
| Width | 3 Inches |
| Length | 5 Inches |
| Weight | 2 Pounds |
Mighty Mint – 16oz Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil – Natural Spray for Spiders, Ants, and More – Non Toxic
Price : $9.97
Features :
- Safe
- Extra Concentrated for Long-Lasting Protection
- Natural Ingredients Proven Effective in the Real World
- Large 16oz Bottle
- Powerful Essential Oil
Additional Info :
| Item Dimensions | |
| Weight | 1 Pounds |