Beach morning glories are beautiful flowering vines that can add a pop of color to any garden However, these plants can fall victim to cutworms, which can quickly defoliate and even kill them As a gardener, it’s important to know how to recognize and get rid of cutworm infestations on beach morning glories. In this article, we’ll explore some organic methods for controlling these pesky pests and saving your morning glories.
What are Cutworms?
Cutworms are the larvae of various species of night-flying moths. They get their name from their habit of chewing through the stems of plants, which cuts the plant off at the soil line. Cutworms typically hide in the top few inches of soil or under plant debris during the day, then come out at night to feed.
There are several common species of cutworms, including the variegated cutworm, the black cutworm, and the dingy cutworm Cutworms can range in color from gray to brown to black When disturbed, they curl up into a C-shape. Their lifecycle is relatively short, lasting just a few weeks from egg to larvae to pupae.
Signs of a Cutworm Infestation
How do you know if your morning glories have cutworms? Here are some telltale signs:
- Plants severed at the soil line or completely uprooted. This happens when cutworms chew through the entire stem.
- Wilted, dying, or collapsed plants. Cutworm damage can prevent water and nutrients from reaching the upper parts of the plant.
- Leaves and stems riddled with holes. Cutworms don’t just attack the base of plants, they will also feed on foliage and tender shoots.
- Presence of cutworms around plants. Check under plant debris or dig around the base of damaged plants to reveal cutworms. They will curl up when exposed.
- Rapid destruction of new growth. Cutworms often target new transplants or seedlings.
Organic Ways to Control Cutworms
If you detect a cutworm infestation on your morning glories, taking prompt action is key to saving your plants. Here are some organic, non-toxic ways to get rid of these pests:
Remove Plant Debris and Weeds
Cutworm moths like to lay their eggs in places with ground cover, so removing weeds, mulch, and plant debris around your morning glories can help. This takes away protective hiding spots for the larvae.
Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkling diatomaceous earth (DE) around the base of plants is an effective natural pest control. The microscopic, sharp edges of DE get under the waxy cuticle of the cutworms and cause them to dry out. Apply a light coating and reapply after rain or watering.
Install Physical Barriers
Collars, wraps, and other physical barriers prevent cutworms from being able to reach the stems of your plants. Materials like aluminum foil, paper, cardboard, or plastic wrap can be wrapped around the lower 3-4 inches of stems. Check periodically to ensure a snug fit as plants grow.
Pick Off Cutworms Manually
Go out at night with a flashlight and pick off any cutworms you find on or around your plants. Drop them into a bucket of soapy water to kill them. You can also search through the top few inches of soil around damaged plants during the day to find and destroy cutworms.
Attract Natural Predators
Birds, beneficial insects, frogs, and ground beetles all feed on cutworms. Introducing plants that attract these predators can help keep cutworm populations in check. Things like cover crops, pollinator gardens, and insectaries are useful for this purpose.
Use Pheromone Traps
Certain pheromones will lure cutworm moths into traps. These can help disrupt the mating process and prevent additional eggs from being laid in your garden. Traps usually contain a sticky substance to immobilize the moths once inside.
Apply Beneficial Nematodes
Some species of parasitic nematodes prey on cutworms living in the soil. After watering them into the ground around your plants, they will seek out and infect the cutworms. The nematodes carry a lethal bacteria that kills the worms within 48 hours.
Cultivate the Soil
Tilling and turning over the top few inches of soil can help eliminate cutworms by bringing them to the surface and exposing them to predators. This is especially useful if you are preparing a new garden bed. Just be careful not to damage the roots of existing plants.
Preventing Future Cutworm Damage
Along with taking action against a current cutworm problem, you’ll also want to take steps to prevent issues in the future. Here are some tips for keeping cutworms away from your beach morning glories:
- Maintain good garden sanitation by cleaning up debris and removing weeds regularly. This denies cutworms places to hide and breed.
- Avoid planting morning glories in areas with dense, unmowed grass. The longer the grass, the more appealing it is to cutworm moths as an egg-laying spot.
- Use floating row covers over new plantings. This forms a protective barrier that keeps adult moths from being able to reach the soil to deposit eggs.
- Rotate morning glory planting spots each year. By not repeatedly planting in the same location, you prevent buildup of cutworm eggs and larvae in the soil.
- Check transplants thoroughly for signs of cutworms before planting. Don’t introduce pests into your garden via infested seedlings.
- Time plantings carefully to avoid periods of peak cutworm activity. This varies by region, but is usually spring to early summer.
Be Patient and Persistent
Dealing with cutworms takes diligence and patience. No single method will eliminate them overnight. But by combining several organic control tactics and maintaining good prevention habits, you can successfully protect your beach morning glories from damage. Check plants frequently, stay vigilant for signs of reinfestation, and be prepared to take action at the first sign of trouble. With persistence, you can outsmart these pesky pests and keep your morning glories thriving.
Fine Gardening Project Guides
Yesterday, beautiful little seedlings were just poking their heads up in the garden. This morning, tragedy! Some seedlings are missing altogether, while others have been beheaded, their fragile tops cut off, lying neatly beside them. If you’re wondering what horrible thing has befallen your plants, the answer is simple: cutworms. You may be able to find one taking a daytime nap by probing the earth with your fingers. Of course, you can kill any cutworms you find by tossing them on a hard surface and stepping on them, but that won’t help the seedlings that have lost their heads. The only immediate solution is to reseed or transplant new seedlings to replace those that were demolished.
Know their cycle to get control
Once you’ve experienced cutworms’ damage, you’ll have no trouble understanding why the larvae of certain night-flying moths are called “cut” worms. The term is applied to about 200 species with slightly different eating habits. Most are gray-brown caterpillars, with the characteristic habit of curling up in the shape of the letter C when disturbed.
Cutworms sleep by day just under the soil surface or occasionally in moist debris on the surface. Some will even make tunnels and feed just below or above the soil surface. These cutworms are the ones most likely to chop down seedlings. Other types remain in the soil and feed on underground stems and roots, causing plants to wilt. Many of these caterpillars are climbers that eat leaves or buds of larger plants or trees. Regardless of the parts of plants they are likely to eat, all of these cutworms come out at night to do their devastating damage.
Grass and weeds harbor eggs. The adult moths of many cutworm species share a similar life cycle. In spring, they are attracted to grasses and weeds to lay their eggs. They prefer weeds with multiple stems and many basal leaves that produce low, dense growth. So the worst cutworm infestations in the vegetable garden generally occur where grassy areas have recently been broken up to create a new planting bed. When the young caterpillars hatch, they begin feeding on the nearest vegetation, slowly expanding their range as they grow. Consequently, if you’re planning to enlarge your garden in early spring by cultivating a nearby grassy or weedy area, do it at least two to three weeks before planting any vegetable seeds. If cultivated too soon before vegetable planting, cutworm larvae that have already hatched may migrate to the vegetables in search of food.
In fall, you can begin a program to reduce cutworm damage the following spring. Thickly mulch the garden area. Compost, weeds, hay, leaves, or even newspaper can make a good smothering mulch. Monitor the area in late winter and spring when the ground warms sufficiently for plant growth. Keep it as free of weeds and grass as possible. Remove any vegetation that might tempt cutworm moths to lay their eggs nearby, or continue adding mulch to deter weed growth.
Q&A – How do I get rid of this morning glory so I can plant bulbs? I have sprayed and it returned.
FAQ
What is the best treatment for cutworms?
How to naturally get rid of cutworms?
Will Dawn dish soap kill cutworms?
Do coffee grounds deter cutworms?
How do I get rid of cutworms in my garden?
A wash of bleach-free dish soap and water on your plants can also help to stop cutworms from attacking the plants. Another approach is the use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally occurring bacterium that target many caterpillar-type pests. It can be an effective and environmentally friendly way to treat cutworms in the garden.
How to get rid of cutworms?
You can also use coffee grounds to get rid of cutworms. You just have to sprinkle the material next to your plants. Make sure that the whole ground next to your plants is covered to deter cutworms in an efficient manner. 5. Eggshells as an alternative to coffee grounds
What do cutworms eat?
As their name suggests, cutworms feed on plants at the soil line and often “cut” right through tender plant stems and cause plants to topple over. Cutworms also feed on plant roots and sometimes climb and nibble on leaf petioles and growing plant shoots on the upper portion of plants. The most common signs of cutworm activity include:
How do you grow beach morning glories?
To establish beach morning glories in gardens, take a cutting and set it into moistened sand. The internodes will shortly send out roots. Set them 3 feet (1 m.) apart and keep plants moist for the first few months. Gardeners growing beach morning glories can breathe a sigh of relief.