I’ve been talking to head gardener and garden consultant, Steve Edney, whose family have grown dahlias for generations. And he only gardens organically, so his advice is chemical-free. See here for Steve’s advice on choosing and growing dahlias.
Firstly, he says that pest control is now about balance not eradication. As gardeners, we know that we can’t get rid of pests permanently. We can only minimise the damage they do.
This applies both to gardening without chemicals and gardening with. Even if you use the fiercest spray you can buy, the slugs, snails and earwigs will ultimately be back.
So ‘it’s about balance,’ he says. You will get a few nibbled leaves and petals, but you can achieve a beautiful overall effect without every flower having to be perfect.
Steve has just created a dahlia border for Canterbury Cathedral, using chemical-free gardening. So this approach is not just for wildlife gardeners but also for those whose gardens have to withstand the scrutiny of thousands of visitors. You can see more views of the border and of Canterbury Cathedral in this video.
Steve and his partner Louise also grow plants in their own nursery, The No Name Nursery in Kent. They sell the plants at plant fairs around South East England. And plants for sale also have to look good!
Dahlias are beautiful summer-blooming flowers that add a pop of color to any garden. However, these gorgeous flowers have one major pest – earwigs. The small, pincher-wielding insects can quickly damage dahlia blooms and leaves. If you’ve noticed ragged bite marks on your dahlias, chances are earwigs are to blame. Getting rid of these nighttime raiders takes diligence, but it can be done without resorting to harsh chemicals. This complete guide covers everything you need to know about controlling earwigs in dahlias successfully.
What Are Earwigs?
Earwigs are small slender insects around 1 inch long or less. They are light brown to black in color and have distinctive pinchers on their abdomen. There are over 200 earwig species but the European earwig is the most common garden pest in North America.
Earwigs get their name from a myth that they crawl into people’s ears while they sleep In reality, they do not parasitize humans but instead feed on decaying plant material. At night, they also chew the leaves and petals of living plants, including dahlias
The damage earwigs cause is very distinctive. You’ll see jagged holes and notches bitten from the edges of leaves and petals. Flowers are often hollowed out or shredded. Left uncontrolled earwigs can quickly defoliate and damage dahlias.
Why Earwigs Love Dahlias
Dahlias are a prime target for earwigs for a few reasons:
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Petals – The tender inner petals are a delicious food source.
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Flowers – Many dahlia varieties have dense, multilayered flowers that provide moist hiding spots.
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Mulch – Earwigs live in moist, dark places like mulched beds.
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Night blooming – Dahlias open and release fragrances at night when earwigs are most active.
When Are Earwigs Most Active?
Earwigs are primarily nocturnal insects. During the day, they hide in dark, damp locations like under mulch, rocks, plant debris, and dense plant growth. At night, they emerge to feed. Most earwig damage occurs overnight and early mornings when flowers are open.
Late summer to fall is peak season for earwigs in most regions. However, in mild climates, earwig issues can start as early as mid-summer. Be on the lookout for the first signs of ragged feeding damage on leaves and blooms. The earlier you spot an infestation, the better.
How to Get Rid of Earwigs on Dahlias Naturally
Getting rid of earwigs takes persistence, but you can control them without using harsh chemical pesticides. Here are some of the most effective methods:
Remove Daytime Hiding Spots
The first step is eliminating places for earwigs to hide during daylight hours when they are vulnerable. This means:
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Carefully raking away any thick mulch from the base of plants. Leave a gap of 3-6 inches between mulch and stems.
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Removing plant debris, fallen leaves, weeds, and groundcovers from the dahlia bed.
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Thinning out dense growth of dahlias and surrounding plants to increase sunlight and airflow.
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Checking under pots, boards, and rocks for colonies.
Use Traps
Traps are very effective for catching earwigs at night as they emerge. The two main types are:
1. Upturned flowerpots – Place overturned clay flowerpots on poles or sticks inserted in the ground among dahlias. Leave a 1-inch gap between the pot edge and pole. Stuff a bit of straw under the pot as a harborage. Earwigs will take shelter there during the day. Knock trapped bugs into a bucket of soapy water each morning.
2. Corrugated cardboard rolls – Make rolls out of 6-8 inch wide corrugated cardboard secured with tape. Place rolls on their sides on the ground near dahlias. Earwigs will gather inside the tight, dark tunnels. Collect and destroy the earwigs each morning.
Check traps daily and clear out any captured earwigs. Destroy them by dropping into soapy water or rubbing alcohol to prevent escapes.
Apply Barrier Methods
There are a couple physical barriers that can help block earwigs from climbing up to blooms at night:
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Tanglefoot pest barrier – Apply this very sticky substance around dahlia stalks to prevent earwigs from climbing. Reapply after rain.
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Vaseline – Smear a layer of petroleum jelly on stalks to make them too slick to climb.
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Diatomaceous earth – This powdery natural product can be dusted around plant bases to deter earwigs crossing over it. It needs reapplication after watering.
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Horticultural fleece – Covering plants with this breathable fabric can keep earwigs off of the flowers. Secure the edges well.
Use Beneficial Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes are tiny parasitic roundworms that prey on earwig eggs and larvae in the soil. The nematodes are applied via watering and actively seek out earwig young to infect. They come in easy-to-use formulations perfect for earwig control. Just be sure to apply early in the season before damage starts.
Encourage Natural Predators
To complement your control efforts, make your garden as friendly as possible to earwigs’ natural enemies:
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Birds like blue jays, starlings, and crows eat adult earwigs.
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Green lacewings and other beneficial insects feed on young earwigs.
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Spiders, centipedes, and ground beetles prey on eggs and larvae.
Provide bird feeders, allow leaf litter to accumulate, and avoid broad spectrum pesticides that could harm beneficial species. Let nature give you a hand with your earwig woes.
Remove Heavily Infested Plants
As a last resort for individual dahlias covered in earwigs, you may need to pull up badly infested plants. Check carefully for earwig colonies in the soil and thoroughly clear these out before replanting another flower. This prevents the earwigs from moving right over to the new plant.
When to Take Emergency Action on Earwigs
While the methods above can effectively control earwigs, it takes time. If you are seeing severe damage quickly, such as flowers being shredded overnight, it may be time for emergency action before all the blooms are lost.
Some options include:
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Spraying infested plants thoroughly with a hard stream of water early evening and next morning. This can knock off and disturb many earwigs before they settle in overnight.
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Applying an organic, OMRI-listed contact insecticide containing Spinosad, neem oil, or pyrethrins early evening. This immediately kills earwigs on contact. Repeat applications are needed.
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Using diatomaceous earth liberally on and around plants as an emergency deterrent. The powdery film damages earwigs on contact.
The goal with emergency control is to protect the remaining healthy blooms and buy you time to implement your long term earwig management plan.
Prevent Earwigs from Returning to Dahlias
The key to keeping earwigs away from dahlias for good is prevention. Follow these tips all season long:
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Inspect plants thoroughly each morning for new damage and immediately address any early infestations you spot.
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Maintain traps around or under plants to catch earwigs on patrol at night.
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Eliminate hiding spots regularly by keeping beds free of dense debris and foliage.
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Cover new transplants with floating row covers to protect while young.
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Reduce moist shelter for earwigs by improving drainage in beds and properly spacing/pruning plants.
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Apply beneficial nematodes 2-3 times per season to kill earwig larvae in beds.
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Rotate dahlia locations each year to prevent buildup in the soil.
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Clean up and dispose of all dahlia stems and tubers after frost to remove overwintering earwigs.
Will Earwigs Eventually Go Away on Their Own?
Earwigs are persistent pests, so they will not just disappear unless you take action. Their populations can grow exponentially if uncontrolled, since a single female lays up 20-30 eggs in the soil. The nymphs hatch in about a week and are feeding on plants in 2-3 weeks.
However, using a combination of prevention, trapping, and exclusion methods can eventually reduce earwig numbers to a manageable level. Avoid broad spectrum pesticides, which interfere with natural biocontrol. With some diligence, you can strike a balance and be able to enjoy your dahlias earwig-free.
Are Earwigs Harmful to Humans or Pets?
Earwigs get their name from the myth they crawl into people’s ears, but they do not parasitize or harm humans. The pincers on their abdomen look scary but are too small to break human skin.
They can give a small nip with the pincers if handled, but generally avoid contact. The only risk would be a slight irritation or pinch if one was trapped against bare skin.
Earwigs pose no toxicity risks to mammals and pets. Ingestion of large numbers could potentially cause minor stomach upset. Their small mouthparts cannot bite through skin. So while earwigs can be a nuisance in the garden, they are not dangerous to people or pets in the home.
How to Keep Earwigs Out of Your House
Though earwigs don’t infest homes like other insects, its possible for one to occasionally hitchhike inside on clothing or plant pots. To keep them from becoming a household nuisance:
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Seal any exterior cracks and openings that could allow them to sneak indoors. Use caulk, weatherstripping, door sweeps etc.
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Check flowerpots and fresh produce carefully before bringing inside. Shake out shoes after being in the garden.
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Install yellow bug lights around outdoor entryways. The light draws in earwigs at night where they can be vacuumed up.
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Use an outdoor residual spray product around the base of your home. This forms a barrier earwigs won’t cross over.
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Reduce moisture sources like leaky pipes, standing puddles, and overwatered foundation plants.
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Vacuum up any earwigs found indoors and empty the bag/canister outside immediately.
With vigilance outdoors and proper exclusion indoors, earwigs rarely become problematic inside homes. Keep their access points limited.
How to Get Rid of Earwigs on Dahlias: The Bottom Line
Earwigs can quickly damage prized dahlias, but controlling them is very possible without chemicals if you’re diligent. Removing their daytime harborages, using traps, keeping plants less attractive, and introducing natural predators can all help reduce their numbers. When pest pressure is high, emergency measures like strong hosing, organic sprays, or heavy applications of diatomaceous earth may be needed to save flowers.
Prevention is key to keeping earwigs away long-term. Be vigilant about monitoring for the first signs of damage, deal with infestations swiftly, maintain good garden sanitation, and replenish beneficials like nematodes. With a persistence multi-tactic approach, you can enjoy earwig-free dahlias!
Snail and slug deterrents without chemicals
Slugs and snails are the number one pest on dahlias.
Steve uses two methods of natural pest control. Firstly, he advises using sheep’s wool or sheep’s wool pellets around the base of your dahlias to deter slugs and snails.
The key to using sheep’s wool pellets correctly is to use them thickly so that they create an almost impenetrable mat. I tried sheep’s wool pellets once. I scattered them thinly, as if they were conventional slug pellets. That didn’t work. You have to be generous with your wool or wool pellets.
The wool will slowly compost down naturally into the soil without causing it any harm. It will even help improve its ability to retain water.
If you live in sheep country, Steve suggests using the wool that gets caught in branches and fencing. Or presumably, you could buy some raw wool directly from a farmer or a farm shop.
It’s important to start controlling slugs and snails in your garden early in the season.
I interviewed the RHS’s Principal Horticultural Advisor, Leigh Hunt, on gardening for biodiversity. He said that the RHS no longer classifies snails and slugs as ‘pests’ because they have a role to play in a garden. They clear up dead and dying foliage and help compost heaps break down. Slugs and snails are also food for songbirds. However, not all gardeners will be convinced!
How to deal with earwigs without using chemicals
Steve says that when you see nibbled petals, it may not be snails that are to blame. It may be earwigs. They’re the number two pest on dahlias.
‘The old way of dealing with earwigs without chemicals used to be to put an upturned pot filled with some straw on the top of a pole,’ says Steve. The earwigs went up into the straw for shelter and you could tip them out somewhere else.
However, Steve has other ways of minimising earwig damage in dahlias.
Firstly, he says that some dahlias are more likely to attract earwigs than others. The big decorative dahlias with their layers of petals offer good hiding places for earwigs. So they are more likely to suffer.
But the simpler single and collerette dahlias don’t offer so much cover. So if you really don’t want earwigs, don’t grow the big decorative dahlias.
However, that seems a bit sad. Steve suggests that if you do want to grow them, smear some Vaseline around the main stems. The earwigs won’t be able to get past it.
Steve also says that earwigs may be a pest on dahlias, but they are otherwise an asset in the garden. They feed heavily on aphids, blackfly and greenfly.
How to Naturally Kill Earwigs in The Garden And Dahlia Patch
FAQ
How do I keep earwigs off my dahlias?
To protect dahlias from earwigs, focus on reducing hiding places, creating barriers, and using traps or repellents. Remove debris and excess moisture, and consider applying petroleum jelly to stems as a barrier.
What can I spray on my dahlias to keep bugs away?
Recommended sprays: BioAdvanced 3-in-1, Monterey Garden Insect Spray, Orthene, Neem Oil, Sevin-5, Organocide, and Malathion. All organic sprays tend to work best for preventative care but are not as effective in treating a problem that already exists.
How do I kill earwigs on my flowers?
Mix dishwashing soap and water, and spray areas where earwigs hang out. Kill earwigs on contact by spraying them with a mixture of equal parts of 70 percent rubbing alcohol and water. Note: Spray just one leaf of a plant before treating the entire plant and wait 24 hours to be sure it won’t cause damage.May 30, 2025
What is the best natural earwig repellent?
Essential oils are the most natural and most effective method to get rid of earwigs. What You Need Lavender essential oil, or Clove oil, or Any citrus oil, or Cinnamon A gallon of water A spray bottle What to Do Mix half an ounce of your chosen essential oil in a gallon of water.
Do earwigs damage dahlias?
Like many other dahlia pests, dahlia damage from earwigs looks like damage from snails and slugs. The main difference is damage from earwigs has a trail of slime residue on the leaves. 2. Dahlias are a beloved late summer flower, prized for their vibrant colors and lush blooms.
How do you get rid of earwigs in dahlias?
Trapping earwigs heading to your dahlias at night is an easy way to thin their numbers. Make simple traps from overturned clay pots, cardboard tubes, or small cans filled with a bit of oil. Place traps near plants in late afternoon and collect/dispose of earwigs each morning. Alternatively, lay damp cardboard or burlap on the ground.
How do you protect Dahlias from earwigs?
Sluggo plus works well to protect dahlias from earwigs. Apply the granules around or near your dahlia plants. Application is most effective when the soil is moist. There are a few effective methods to protect dahlias from earwigs.
Do dahlias attract earwigs?
Dahlias do not inherently attract earwigs; however, earwigs are known to feed on a wide variety of plants, and dahlias can be a food source for earwigs if they are present in the area. Earwigs are attracted to moist, dark environments and will often hide in gardens, flower beds, and other areas where plants are present.
How do you get earwigs to climb a dahlia tree?
Apply a very small amount to your fingertips and run it up and down the stem of the dahlias, making sure to start at the base of the stem and work your way up. The goal isn’t to create a goopy mess but to have enough material present so that the earwigs cannot get a grip on the stem to climb it.
How do I know if my dahlias have earwigs?
However, you will notice a sticky, slimy substance along a path on the leaves and stems of your dahlias. If they’ve reached your plant’s leaves and petals, you may see small holes chewed away. They also tend to have a strong, foul odor to them. To keep earwigs out of your flowerbeds, make the space less attractive to them.