We have lots of them, but I haven't had problems with them damaging plants in my garden beds. After they went a bit overboard eating the old roots on some of my orchids, I moved the plants onto raised plastic shelving, but that isn't helpful in your case.
this post was submitted on 16 May 2026
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Last year, I actually had a problem with them getting into the house. They were always heading towards the patio door, but since that door was replaced, I don’t get them inside anymore. Now, when I scoop up a handful of soil in the garden bed and I can find 10-20 pill bugs. There are just so many!
Most of my vegetable gardening is in pots or wheeled raised garden beds, my in ground garden bed is only 3ft x 6ft. At least the issue doesn’t affect all of my plants.
I cut down an old tomatillo plant yesterday, I will stick the dead root ball in my garden for the pill bugs to eat. Hoping that between the diatomaceous earth rings around my plants and mulch/old plant cuttings, I can keep them happy and not eating my plants lol
Such adorably frustrating little cuties!
Are you sure it’s the pill bugs? Because they usually only eat dead/decaying plant matter. You really don’t want to kill them off. Maybe they don’t have enough dead stuff to eat and so they’re going after your plants? Maybe you need some compost?