Comments on: How to Get Rid of Budworms Naturally (Fast and Easy)

By: Kim

Kim — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 14:05:43 +0000

This is the 2nd year in a row I’ve had these little monsters. Last year the completely what started out as a perfectly lovely display of petunias and geraniums in railing planters on our deck. I threw everything out at the end of the season, including the dirt and started fresh this year with geraniums (and vinca for trailers) only. And the little beggars are back. Before I attack the worms themselves, I was thinking I need to remove all flowers, including buds. I will also, as you suggest, inspect all leaves for eggs, and remove any dead or dying leaves. Is removing all of the buds (as they do hide in them and eat their way out) a good idea?

By: bmeister decamp

bmeister decamp — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 01:06:34 +0000

In reply to John Padilla.

Excellent article, thank you!

2 questions:
1-can I re-use the soil from pots that had budworm? Hoping to use it in a raised bed, I live in Oregon – low temps as much as -15 in winter.

2-one comment said her plants were fine next year, I usually winter over my geraniums in the house or the garage….seems like the pupa would survive and live to create more havoc the following summer. Yes?

By: Elaine Seggerson

Elaine Seggerson — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 19:49:54 +0000

LV NV– ALL MY 60 OR SO POTS HAVE BUD WORMS………………………CAN’T SEEM TO FIND ANYTHING THAT WORKS–BELIEVE ME I HAVE TRIED IT ALL!
AT 85 I CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH ! BT DEFINETELY HAD NO EFFECT WHATSO EVER. SO MY DECISION( WHICH I HATE IS TO DIG EVERYTHING UPAND KILL THEM ALL.
THANKS ANYWAY! HAVE A GOOD DAY!

By: Sonora Jumper

Sonora Jumper — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 10:38:28 +0000

I was wondering if Rid,-bugs organic would work?

By: John Padilla

John Padilla — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:51:41 +0000

Can you use red powder chili

By: John Padilla

John Padilla — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 13:36:13 +0000

In reply to Ehrin. Thank you sir I'll try thatBecause I found 2 little Brown worms on my plant

By: Susie

Susie — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 23:07:35 +0000

I, too, have found your article to be just what I was looking for…how to control budworms in my geraniums and roses. Your article was clear and simply written, making it very easy to understand. So, thank you very much and keep up with your great helping hands!

By: Ehrin

Ehrin — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 14:08:50 +0000

I have a question. Do I need to treat the soil, if I had budworms, and intend to use the soil next year? My pots are very large and it costs a fortune to repot so I usually just top the soil off each year. If I should treat the soil, what should I use?
Thanks!
Ehrin

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 02:27:11 +0000

Thank you! Excellent info & photos.

I’ve got huge geraniums I’ve kept in pots for years here in NJ, bringing inside in winter, when I cut them down to 2″ nubs and then watch them get huge outside again each summer, filling my garden with a gorgeous display of color.

But at the end of summer, like now, 8/26/20, the buds get eaten by budworms, easily ID’d by, as you say, the holes in the buds that then don’t flower, and the sesame seed-like black “pepper” that stands out against the green leaves. The caterpillars are exactly like the photos above. I also find them on my ageratum, altho they don’t seem to destroy them as much or make them stop flowering like my geraniums.

(They don’t kill the plants, which come back fine the following year. I just hate to see the blooming be cut short each summer. Some years they’re not hit and bloom well into autumn before I bring them in before frost arrives.)

I’ve picked them off with success, but I still see a few so that’s not totally working. I’m going to also try the chili /dish soap spray.

Many thanks for an excellent article!!

By: Jean Marie Morris

Jean Marie Morris — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 23:32:56 +0000

thank you very much. I will be able to save my rose plant one more year in her overbearing life and the things I have put her through.