A plant collar is a small barrier around a transplant’s stem. It can stop many cutworms from wrapping around the tender stem and chewing it near ground level.
You can use a cardboard toilet-paper tube, a strip of sturdy cardboard, or a band of aluminum foil. Avoid cut cans or brittle plastic because their edges can be sharp.
- Make a cylinder wide enough to leave growing room around the stem.
- Place it around the transplant without pinching leaves or roots.
- Push the bottom a few inches into the soil and leave a few inches above ground.
- Press soil gently against the outside so there are no easy gaps underneath.
- Check the collar as the plant grows. Remove or widen it before it rubs or squeezes the stem.
Ask an adult to help cut or fasten the material. A collar is most useful when you have seen cutworm damage or know they are a recurring problem; most established plants do not need one.