Troubleshooting worksheet
Chewed or severed stems
Young stems are notched, scraped, hollowed, or cut near the soil line.
Look before acting
A visual match narrows questions. It does not prove a diagnosis.
Compare the location, pattern, affected plant parts, recent weather, watering, and changes in care before choosing a response.
Possible causes
Keep the list open at first.
01Cutworms
02Rodents
03Slugs
04Stem borers
05Mechanical injury
Questions to answer
Look at the whole plant and root zone.
- Is damage at night or near soil level?
- Is the stem cut cleanly or hollowed?
- Are tracks, frass, or slime present?
- Are several plants affected in a row?
Low-risk actions
Change one thing at a time.
- Inspect after dark and around the stem base.
- Protect replacement seedlings with an appropriate collar where cutworms are confirmed.
- Remove nearby hiding debris selectively.
- Identify borers before cutting into a living stem.
Working checklist