Question
I planted impatients yesterday and today I found some of them broken off at the root and stashed next to my stone wall uneaten.  What could be doing this?

Answer

Cutworm The likely culprits are cutworms. Cutworms are a common pest in the garden, especially in early spring. They are very small worms that live just beneath the surface of the soil. They wrap themselves around the stem at night and literally chew it to a point where it looks like it was sawed at the base.

This insect can be controlled with BT, formally known as bacillicus thurengitis.  It is sold in garden centers under the product names BT, Dipel, or MVP.  It is organic and is not toxic to humans or pets.

I have also attached a photo of a cutworm in case you want to look for them in the garden.

Good luck, and have a nice Memorial Day.

Mike