They'll crawl under and can be easily collected.įinally, rotate where you plant your zinnias (and all plants) each year so pests and diseases specific to that plant don't have a good chance to buildup in the soil over time. If that’s the case, gently pull off the seed. Some might still be attached to the base of a petal. You can also create places for them to hide during the day, such as boards, garden pots, etc. Take a dry zinnia flower and 'flail' the seed headhit it gently to release the seeds, or pull it apart or rub it between your fingers over the paper plate to release the seeds. The slugs will crawl through it, be cut, and eventually die. Diatomaceous earth is basically tiny, fossilized silica shells made into an insecticidal powder. The aptly named slugs like to drink the stuff, and will fall into the container and drown.Īnother method is to use barriers of diatomaceous earth or sawdust. If you don't have beer, a mix of sugar, yeast and water also works. Sink little plastic containers (such as butter tubs) into the soil so they are level with the ground. Here's an effective way to get rid of slugs that won't harm you or the environment. Place it on the soil around the stem of your transplant, burying the cardboard about one inch into the soil. Zinnia plants are best supported by individual stakes. Pinch out the tips to encourage branching. When the seedlings emerge, thin them out so you end up with one plant every 12in (30cm) or so. Just take an empty paper towel or toilet paper roll and cut the cardboard into 3-inch long sections. Pick a sunny position and sow two or three seeds 5cm (2in) apart, with each cluster about 30cm (12in) apart. You can try cardboard or paper towel rolls. By the time the paper degrades away, the stems will be larger and stronger, and not subject to cutworm attack. This will prevent cutworms from cutting off your tender plants. Wrap it around the stem of the plant placing the bottom end just below the soil surface. Tear a strip of newspaper about 2" wide and a foot long. Try a "collar" around the plant stems to act as a barrier. Cutworms are often found in the top inch or two of soil, curled in a 'C' shape. Where you see damage, dig around the plant base with your finger. Cover zinnia seeds with just inch of soil because they need light to germinate. Try to go out at night with a flashlight to see if you can catch somebody in the act. Another possibility would be cutworms, which, like slugs, are also nocturnal munchers. Slugs perhaps, but pillbugs don't eat live plant tissue.
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