As a gardener and bald cypress tree enthusiast I’ve dealt with my fair share of pesky cutworms invading my trees. These creepy crawlies can quickly damage and even kill young bald cypress trees if left unchecked. After years of battling cutworms I’ve learned some effective organic methods to get rid of them and protect my beautiful cypress trees. In this article, I’ll share everything I know about identifying, preventing, and organically eliminating cutworms on bald cypress trees.
What are Cutworms?
Cutworms are the larvae stage of various species of night-flying moths. They earned their name from their habit of chewing through the stems of young plants literally “cutting them down.” Cutworms hide in the top few inches of soil during the day, coming out at night to feed on new plant growth.
These pests are extremely common across North America and can attack many different plant species. However, their damage can be especially devastating to sensitive trees like young bald cypresses. If you notice young trees with chewed stems that are toppled over or cut off at soil level, cutworms are likely the culprits.
How to Check for Cutworms
To verify that cutworms are present, check around the base of damaged trees for plump, smooth caterpillars up to 2 inches long. Cutworms come in various colors like brown, grey, black or mottled green. When disturbed, they curl up into a tight C-shape. You may also find them by digging a few inches down into the soil near affected trees. Heavy infestations can litter the ground with chewed plant debris.
Organic Cutworm Controls
Once you confirm cutworms are attacking your bald cypress trees, it’s time to fight back! But there’s no need for toxic pesticides – here are some safe, effective organic options:
Remove Weeds & Mulch Trees
Cutworm moths prefer to lay eggs in weedy, unmanaged areas. Keep your cypress trees mulched and weed-free to discourage this. Spreading 2-4 inches of mulch also makes it harder for cutworms to travel from soil to trees.
Use Physical Barriers
Installing physical barriers can prevent cutworms from reaching tree stems. Wrap the lower 3-4 inches of the trunk with aluminum foil, hard plastic guards, or even toilet paper tubes. The slick surface deters the worms.
Apply Beneficial Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes are microscopic worms that prey on cutworms, but are harmless to plants. Water them into the soil around cypress trees to let them hunt. They persist in the soil through multiple seasons.
Encourage Natural Predators
Songbirds, toads, ground beetles and other predators feed on cutworms. Avoid pesticides that would harm them. You can also introduce beneficial insects like green lacewings or parasitic wasps near trees.
Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
This natural bacteria kills caterpillars when they ingest it, but doesn’t harm humans, plants, or beneficial insects. Spray it directly onto tree stems and surrounding soil. It must be reapplied after rain or irrigation.
Pick Off Cutworms
For light infestations, handpick the cutworms from trees and drop them into soapy water. Search for them at the base of trees in morning and evening when they are most active. You can also till or rake soil to expose them.
Solarize the Soil
In fall, clear and wet the soil around bald cypress trees, then cover it tightly with clear plastic for 4-6 weeks. This “solarization” process heats the soil, killing eggs and larvae. Remove plastic once weather cools.
Prevent Cutworm Damage
Along with control methods, preventing cutworm damage is key to protect bald cypress trees long-term:
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Maintain healthy soil with compost to grow robust trees that better withstand pest attacks.
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Avoid over-fertilization which causes excessive new growth that attracts cutworms.
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Control weeds which serve as an alternative food source allowing cutworms to build up high populations.
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Clean up fallen leaves, mulch, and other organic matter where moths can hide and lay eggs.
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Use row covers over young trees, securing the edges tightly with soil. This forms a physical barrier to moths.
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Rotate synthetic pyrethrins, neem oil, or other organic treatments to deter moths from laying eggs around cypress trees.
By incorporating these organic prevention and control strategies, you can keep destructive cutworms from damaging your beautiful bald cypress trees. With persistence and an integrated pest management approach, you can outsmart these pesky caterpillars. Your cypress trees will be able to grow gracefully and add their stunning character to your landscape.
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.
Cutworms- How to prevent and control it
FAQ
What is the best treatment for cutworms?
How to naturally get rid of cutworms?
Do coffee grounds deter cutworms?
Will soapy water kill cutworms?
Are Cypress moths a problem?
Cypress moths can be handled by leaf removal as well as insecticide use. Cypress moths are also potentially problematic for bald cypress trees. Small female cypress moths tend to attack the trees. Bald cypress trees can also occasionally be prone to scales, particularly female globose scales.
How do you care for a bald cypress tree?
It’s not difficult to provide your tree the best bald cypress care if you select an excellent planting location, starting with a spot in full sun. When you are planting a bald cypress tree, ensure that the soil has good drainage but also retains some moisture. Ideally, the soil should be acidic, moist and sandy. Irrigate regularly.
Do bald cypress trees get chlorosis?
Although bald cypress information may tell you that the tree has no serious insect or disease issues, it is likely to get chlorosis in alkaline soils. You’ll make Mother Nature happy if you start bald cypress growing. These trees are important to wildlife and help hold soil in place.
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.