How To Get Rid Of Winter Cutworms In Your Lawn

Wisconsin winters can be harsh and cold, creating an array of issues for homeowners to deal with on their property. The last thing you should have to worry about in these conditions is the threat of lawn pests damaging your landscape, but the winter cutworm has other plans! Winter cutworms can be a surprising nuisance on your property that you may not even notice until light snowfall covers the ground and their dark-colored bodies become noticeable. 

Thankfully, there are ways to deal with winter cutworms before they cause serious damage to your lawn or the plants in your garden. Join the Be Green Pro team as we go over what you need to know about winter cutworms and how to get rid of them! 

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Cutworms are the larvae of various moths belonging to the Noctuidae family. Despite the name, cutworms are not worms at all; they are the caterpillar stage of certain moth species within the Noctuidae family. The winter cutworm, specifically, is the larval/caterpillar stage of the large yellow underwing moth (Noctua pronuba). 

As the name suggests, winter cutworms are notorious for their ability to tolerate cold temperatures, allowing them to damage your lawn even during winter dormancy. Here in Wisconsin, recent reports have noted winter cutworms in temperatures as low as 20℉, and they have even been spotted being active underneath snowfall. Below are some key identifiers to look for to help differentiate winter cutworms from other caterpillars or pests in your yard.

How To Identify Winter Cutworms:

• Hairless, segmented bodies
• Up to 3 inches in size
• Green-to-brown color 
• Stripes or dashes on back
• White dashes on mature cutworms
• “Y” or bracket-shaped marking on head

Winter cutworms damage grass and other plants by attacking the first part of the vegetation they see above the soil. This typically means that cutworms will target the base stems of established plants, hence the name “cutworm,” as they cut down the growing plant. In particular, winter cutworms are known to attack young seedlings in early spring, when temperatures are usually still too cool and unpredictable for other pests to be present. 

As cutworms eat away at your grass, your lawn will become thin and patchy. Taller and stronger grass blades enable your lawn to absorb nutrients for healthier growth. Likewise, plants in your garden will begin to wilt and die if their stems and roots are eaten by these pests. Thankfully, there are certain preventive measures you can take, as well as ways to get rid of cutworms before extensive damage is done to your yard. 

The yellow underwing moth lays its eggs in mid-spring, and the winter cutworm develops throughout the remainder of the season, eventually overwintering when temperatures and weather conditions are too harsh (if applicable). Winter cutworms love to hide under debris in the yard, including lawn weeds and overgrown grass, with many eggs often being attached directly to leaves. This means that staying vigilant and maintaining your lawn throughout the year is key to the prevention of cutworms in your lawn.

• Remove thatch and plant debris from your yard so that winter cutworms will not have as many places to hide.
• Pull weeds that may already be hiding eggs or cutworms, which will also deter any further presence of pests.
• Fertilize the soil in your lawn and garden, as nutrient-rich soil is less appealing to pests like winter cutworms.
• Mow your lawn slightly shorter and close to the edge of gardens to avoid overgrowth where cutworms can thrive.
• Avoid excess mulching when winter cutworms are present because organic mulch provides more hiding places for cutworms.
• Surround plants with cardboard or aluminum foil instead of mulch to prevent winter cutworms in your garden. 

While the tips above will certainly help you mitigate the presence of winter cutworms, these tenacious intruders will inevitably find their way into your yard if they are determined to do so. When this happens, pesticides can be used as a last resort, but there are many natural options that can be effective before you reach for the hazardous chemicals. 

Here at Be Green Pro, we offer different pest control options to suit the needs and preferences of our clients. While we do offer regular pesticide treatments when necessary, we strongly encourage our customers to try our organic pest control services to preserve the environment and the natural health of their yards. The methods below are great ways to get rid of winter cutworms naturally and without the use of pesticides.

• Introduce beneficial nematodes to the lawn, as they feed on cutworm larvae, reducing their population naturally.
• Encourage natural predators of cutworms, such as ground beetles and wasps, by avoiding the use of broad-spectrum insecticides.
• Implement rotation in garden beds to disrupt the life cycle of cutworms and reduce their numbers naturally.
• Turn over the soil to expose winter cutworms to birds and other predators that will prey upon them.
• Encourage a diverse ecosystem in the yard by planting a variety of flowering plants that attract beneficial insects.
• Apply cornmeal, essential oils, and other homemade pest control remedies that can eradicate winter cutworms without affecting soil health. 

In severe cases that can not be treated with natural remedies, pesticides may be needed in order to save your lawn and garden. Products containing bifenthrin have proven to be effective in treating winter cutworms, and their effects can last up to three months before another application is needed. It should be noted, however, that products like these and other chemical pesticides can be harmful to ecosystems and unintentionally target beneficial insects. It is always best to call a professional, like Be Green Pro, to apply hazardous chemicals around your lawn and yard. 

Our dedicated team works to maintain the health of your lawn and garden with thorough observations during each visit. Your role as the daily guardian of your landscape is invaluable,  as you will be the first to notice issues like unexpected thinning of grass or notches on leaves. These signs are essential in early detection of cutworm activity, and timely reporting of such damage makes all the difference in effective pest control. 

Winter in Lake Country, Wisconsin, demands more than just pest control vigilance it requires proactive snow removal measures to safeguard your property. Snow Removal Lake Country understands the importance of keeping your pathways and driveways clear during the harsh winter months. With our efficient snow removal service, you can trust that your property will remain accessible and safe, allowing you to focus on maintaining the health of your lawn and garden.

We encourage you to contact us with your observations, and we can have one of our professionals out to your property promptly to assess the damage and confirm a potential winter cutworm invasion. Remember the information and tips discussed above when looking for winter cutworms in your yard, and call Be Green Pro immediately to protect your property against them!