Have you noticed lots of holes and chunks missing from the leaves of your fall veggies like cabbage, kale, broccoli, and cauliflower? These are delicacies for caterpillars! A little snacking is nothing to worry about, but here’s how to prevent a feast!
First, decide for yourself how much caterpillar snacking you can tolerate. If it’s a few holes here and there, you might leave them alone or try to find and relocate them. If you decide it’s time to treat, bacteria is your friend. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a naturally occurring bacteria that targets caterpillars but is safe and harmless for humans, pets, birds, and other wildlife. We carry it in a spray (Captain Jack’s Bt) or a powder form (Dipel Dust) – same active ingredient that works when caterpillars eat it. Some folks prefer the spray because you can spray all over the plant, up under the leaves, etc. Some prefer the dust because it’s easy to sprinkle over the plant. Both work great!
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