Good plan. Cut worms will over-winter in leaf litter, and in the Northwest, just push down a bit when needed to avoid the freeze. I've pulled back mulch in winter and picked them from the soil. The other beastie that cuts succulent stems at the soil line, or just below it, are wire worms, the larval stage of the click beetle. They are most prevalent around the edges of a bed, especially where grass bumps right up against the bed. In this area the infestation can be severe. New beds made by removing lawn are notorious for wire worms. The bag of oatmeal works well for both. I have used potato slices for years. I put a sliced potato (1/2 in. thick, and quartered) throughout the bed, and find they are most effective when no more than 4 inches away from the plant. Push into soil so only the top -- about 2 inches is above the soil. Check every two days, and pull out the beasties. They prefer potato to the plant, and will stay in the trap. The oatmeal -- or even cornmeal -- also works, but sometimes the mice get at those, and they get soggy when it rains so are hard to manage. It is a little early for rabbits in the Northwest, but the deer are very hungry. Yesterday they trimmed the top of one of my aucuba, where the winter-protection mesh had fallen down. Jo in Vancouver Island, at 50 degrees N, about 4 hours north of Seattle. -----Original Message----- From: pbs [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net] On Behalf Of Susanne DuBois Sent: Friday, January 5, 2018 1:50 PM To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> Subject: Re: [pbs] First snowdrop sightings Google Cut Worms. I have had problems with them in the Seattle area for years. They "cut" the plant off at it base. A trick to see if you have them...make a little bag out of cheese cloth and fill it with dried oatmeal and bury it near the plant. Dig it up in a few days and see if you "caught" any. I use this truck to control they as well. Susanne On January 5, 2018, at 1:44 PM, Susan Calhoun <susan@plantswomandesign.com> wrote: HI All, So cold back east, sorry. Here in Seattle area snowdrops are starting to push through the ground and my Galanthus woronowii is up and blooming. I did have trouble with something eating the snowdrop blooms last year. I wonder if anyone knows what it could be. I do see some rabbit nibbles on the leaves, and don’t see slug or snail trails (it is still a bit cold for them). I did put out some slug/snail killer last year but didn’t see any significant difference in non treated areas vs treated areas. Any help would be appreciated, I have many varieties and would love to see all of them not just bits. Thanks Susan Calhoun _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com/ _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…