Budworms

Are your petunias, geraniums, or million bells mysteriously ceasing to bloom? If so, let’s take a closer look at the buds. Budworms might be the sneaky culprits responsible for this problem.

Budworms are tiny caterpillars that can be either green, red, or brown, depending on the flowers they’re feeding on. During the day, they cleverly hide under the foliage or within the flower buds, which often makes them hard to spot. These voracious eaters not only target annuals like petunias and geraniums but can also affect perennials like coneflowers, where they consume the centers of seedheads.

To identify budworms, examine the buds carefully for any telltale signs of holes or damage. They tend to feast on the developing flower parts, which hampers the blooming process and may lead to the frustration of seeing fewer blossoms.

Taking action against these garden intruders is crucial to preserve the beauty of your plants. Budworms are best controlled by a product containing Spinosad such as Captain Jack’s Deadbug Brew, a Permethrin product such as Hi-Yield’s Indoor and Outdoor, or a Bifenthrin product such as Hi-Yield’s Bug Blaster 2.4.

Let’s protect our beautiful blooms and say goodbye to these pesky budworms! Happy gardening!