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Dealing with Cutworms

By Robynznest
July 7, 2013

Wrap newspaper pieces around the trunk of the plants when planting to help keep cutworms away.

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Jul 6, 2013 7:37 PM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Dave Whitinger
Southlake, Texas (Zone 8a)
Region: Texas Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Tomato Heads Vermiculture Garden Research Contributor
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I've never heard of this before. Why would it work?
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Jul 6, 2013 9:43 PM CST
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
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dave said:I've never heard of this before. Why would it work?


I am with you, Dave. I don't understand how this would help? Maybe for cut worm, but not for hornworms? I'd love to find out, as I usually find a few on my plants each year.
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Jul 7, 2013 6:30 AM CST
Name: Paul
Allen Park, MI (Zone 6a)
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I too never heard of this except to repel cutworms on transplants.
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Jul 7, 2013 1:02 PM CST
Plants Admin
Name: Rob Duval
Milford, New Hampshire (Zone 5b)
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There can be no way I would think this would work... Hornworm eggs are laid singly directly on the leaves near the TOP of the plant. The young caterpillars feed on the most tender leaves first and will then work down to lower, older sets of leaves as they deplete the most tender stuff. At no time would newspaper placed near/around the trunk of the plant hinder the life cycle of this animal. In fact, they could easily complete the cycle without ever getting near the newspaper.

With absolutely no disrespect intended here, I believe this tip is incorrect information and is actually meant to be a tip to help stop cutworms, as others here have said.
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Jul 7, 2013 3:24 PM CST
Name: greene
Savannah, GA (Sunset 28) (Zone 8b)
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Some of us still read the photo and only skim the words. If Robynznest had used a photo of a cutworm rather than a tomato hornworm/tobacco hornworm her idea would have been more clear to us all. There are many things which can be placed around the young transplant tomatoes - tar paper collars, newspaper collars, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, etc. - which prevent the cutworm from encircling the stem of the tomato plant. I would respectfully suggest the OP simply change the photo to better reflect the good idea.
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Last edited by greene Jul 8, 2013 8:10 AM Icon for preview
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Jul 7, 2013 5:03 PM CST
Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)
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Good idea! I started thinking that a cut worm and a hornworm were the same thing, or perhaps I was calling it the wrong thing all this time.... Rolling on the floor laughing
In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.


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Jul 7, 2013 5:22 PM CST
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
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Is it possible that the title and wording was changed? Confused I swear it said tomato hornworm this morning.... Shrug!

Yes, might help with cutworms.
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Jul 7, 2013 5:48 PM CST
Plants Admin
Name: Rob Duval
Milford, New Hampshire (Zone 5b)
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daylily said:Is it possible that the title and wording was changed? Confused I swear it said tomato hornworm this morning.... Shrug!

Yes, might help with cutworms.



yes, the title and wording have been changed, just not the picture.
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Jul 7, 2013 6:16 PM CST
Garden.org Admin
Name: Dave Whitinger
Southlake, Texas (Zone 8a)
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Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Garden Ideas: Master Level Region: Ukraine Garden Sages
I changed the wording but couldn't find a good photo to swap out on short notice.
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Jul 8, 2013 8:54 AM CST
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
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Thumbs up

Thanks, Dave!
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Jul 10, 2013 8:38 PM CST
Name: Robin
Pittsburg, MO
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My grandpa told me that the newspaper will keep the worm from crawling up the trunk. Gramps did this for years, my dad did it and I have been doing it for years, too. I don't have the dreaded worms that we call tomato worms. This may not be the correct name, but Daves picture is the right one. I have also been putting the paper around my brugs the past two years, because they were getting infested with the worm. Thank you Dave for providing a picture.
Save the planet, it's the only one with chocolate.
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Jul 11, 2013 1:59 PM CST
Name: Juli
Ohio (Zone 6a)
Region: United States of America Charter ATP Member Cottage Gardener Daylilies Garden Photography Enjoys or suffers cold winters
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dave said:I've never heard of this before. Why would it work?


I am with you, Dave. I don't understand how this would help? Maybe for cut worm, but not for hornworms? I'd love to find out, as I usually find a few on my plants each year.
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