Protect Plants From Cicadas – A Practical Guide To Safeguarding
You have likely heard the rising hum in the trees and noticed the small, perfectly round exit holes appearing in the soil. Dealing with a massive brood emergence can feel like a scene from a science fiction movie, especially when you have spent years cultivating a beautiful landscape or homestead.
I promise that with the right tools and a bit of strategic foresight, you can successfully safeguard your trees and shrubs from the damage caused by these buzzing visitors. We will walk through the most effective physical barriers, timing tricks, and recovery steps to ensure your greenery remains healthy and vibrant.
This guide previews how to protect plants from cicadas using methods that are safe for the environment, your family, and the local wildlife. By following these practical steps, you can enjoy the wonder of this natural phenomenon without sacrificing your hard-earned garden growth.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Cicada Threat to Your Landscape
Before you head to the garden center, it is important to understand exactly what these insects do to your greenery. Adult cicadas do not have chewing mouthparts like locusts or grasshoppers, so they will not devour your leaves or flowers in a single afternoon.
The real danger comes from the female’s egg-laying process, known as oviposition. She uses a sharp, saw-like organ to slit small grooves into the bark of slender branches, where she then deposits hundreds of eggs.
This process can weaken or even kill small branches, leading to a condition called “flagging.” You will notice the tips of branches turning brown, wilting, and eventually snapping off in the wind, which can be devastating for young or newly planted specimens.
Which Plants Are Most at Risk?
Cicadas are not particularly picky, but they do have a preference for deciduous trees with branches about the width of a pencil. Fruit trees, such as apple, peach, and cherry, are frequent targets for these periodical insects.
Ornamental hardwoods like maples, oaks, and dogwoods are also high on their list. If you have recently added new saplings to your homestead, these are the individuals that require your immediate attention and shielding.
Mature, established trees can usually handle the stress of a brood emergence without much trouble. Focus your energy and resources on plants that are less than four or five years old, as their smaller branch structure is much more vulnerable.
Best Physical Barriers to Protect Plants from Cicadas
The most effective way to protect plants from cicadas is to create a physical shield that prevents the females from reaching the bark. Chemical sprays are generally ineffective because new insects emerge every day, and the toxins can harm beneficial pollinators.
Fine mesh netting is the gold standard for garden defense during a brood emergence. You want to look for a mesh size of 1/4 inch or smaller to ensure the insects cannot crawl through the gaps.
Avoid using standard bird netting, as the holes are typically large enough for a cicada to wiggle through. Furthermore, birds and small reptiles can become tragically entangled in the larger loops of bird netting, creating a safety hazard for your local wildlife.
How to Install Garden Netting Correctly
To start, drape the netting over the entire canopy of your small tree or shrub. Ensure the mesh reaches all the way to the ground or covers the lowest branches completely.
Secure the netting to the trunk using twine, zip ties, or heavy-duty garden staples. It is vital to close any gaps at the bottom, as cicadas often climb up the trunk from the ground after emerging from their nymph stage.
Check your netting every few days to ensure it hasn’t shifted or developed holes. A secure fit is the only way to keep the female insects from finding a way inside to lay their eggs on your vulnerable branches.
Alternative Materials for Small Plants
If you are protecting very small shrubs or potted plants on an RV patio, you can use “tulle”—the fine fabric often used for veils or tutus. It is incredibly lightweight, inexpensive, and has a very tight weave that is perfect for blocking insects.
For homesteaders on a budget, old window screens or even lightweight floating row covers can work in a pinch. Just ensure the material allows for proper airflow and sunlight so your plants do not overheat or develop fungal issues.
Remember to remove these barriers as soon as the singing stops and the adult cicadas have reached the end of their life cycle. This usually happens about four to six weeks after they first emerge from the soil.
Timing Your Strategy: When to Take Action
Timing is everything when you want to protect plants from cicadas effectively. If you net your trees too early, you might restrict their spring growth; if you wait too long, the damage may already be done.
Keep a close eye on the soil temperature in your region. Periodical cicadas typically begin their mass emergence when the soil about four inches deep reaches a consistent 64 degrees Fahrenheit.
A simple kitchen thermometer or a dedicated soil probe can help you track this. Once you see the first few “chimneys” or exit holes in the dirt, it is time to deploy your netting and barriers immediately.
Monitoring the Brood Schedule
Periodical cicadas emerge in 13-year or 17-year cycles, depending on the specific brood. Check with your local university extension office or a reputable insect tracking website to see if an emergence is expected in your area this year.
Annual cicadas, which appear every summer, are much fewer in number and rarely cause significant damage to healthy plants. You only need to worry about the massive “brood” events that bring millions of insects to the surface at once.
If you are planning a major landscaping project or planting an orchard, consider delaying it by one year if a major brood is scheduled to emerge. Starting your trees after the brood has passed gives them over a decade to grow strong before the next event.
Safe Deterrents and Natural Management Techniques
While physical barriers are the most reliable method, there are other ways to manage the impact of these insects on your property. If you have a large number of trees and cannot net them all, focus on deterrence and manual removal.
A strong blast of water from a garden hose can knock cicadas off your plants and temporarily disorient them. This is a great task for the morning hours when the insects are less active and easier to target.
While they will eventually crawl back up, consistent water sprays can encourage them to find a different, less “hostile” tree for their egg-laying. It is a simple, chemical-free way to reduce the pressure on your favorite ornamentals.
The Role of Natural Predators
During a brood emergence, every bird, squirrel, and fish in the area will be feasting on the sudden abundance of protein. You can encourage these natural allies by keeping your bird feeders full or providing a clean water source.
Chickens and ducks are particularly fond of cicadas. If you have a backyard flock, they will do an incredible job of cleaning up the nymphs as they emerge from the ground and the adults that fall from the trees.
Avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides, as these will kill the very predators that are helping you manage the cicada population. Embrace the chaos for a few weeks, knowing that the local wildlife is getting a massive nutritional boost.
Post-Emergence Care and Recovery for Damaged Trees
Even with the best efforts to protect plants from cicadas, you might still find some “flagging” on your trees. Do not panic if you see brown tips on your oak or maple branches; this is a natural part of the process.
Wait until the emergence is completely over before you start pruning. Cutting back damaged wood too early can actually stress the tree further while the insects are still active and looking for egg-laying sites.
Once the singing has died down, use sharp, sterilized pruning shears to remove the damaged branch tips. Make your cuts just above a healthy bud or lateral branch to encourage new, vigorous growth.
Hydration and Nutrition
The stress of losing branch tips can be mitigated by ensuring your plants are well-hydrated. If the weather is dry during or after the emergence, provide deep, consistent watering to help the tree recover its energy reserves.
Avoid heavy fertilizing immediately after a cicada event. You want the tree to focus on healing its vascular system rather than pushing out a massive flush of new, tender growth that might be susceptible to other pests.
Mulching around the base of your trees can help retain soil moisture and provide a slow release of nutrients. Use a high-quality organic mulch and keep it a few inches away from the trunk to prevent rot.
The Outdoor Enthusiast’s Perspective: Living with the Brood
For those of us who love the outdoors, a cicada emergence is a rare and spectacular event. While we want to save our gardens, it is also important to appreciate the ecological role these insects play.
When millions of cicadas die, their bodies decompose and return a massive amount of nitrogen and nutrients to the soil. This “pulse” of fertilizer can lead to incredible forest growth in the years following an emergence.
The tunnels they create when emerging also help to aerate the soil, allowing water and oxygen to reach the roots of the very trees they were feeding on. It is a complex, circular relationship that has existed for millions of years.
Tips for Campers and Travelers
If you are traveling in an RV or van during an emergence, be prepared for the noise. The collective song of a brood can reach over 100 decibels, which is loud enough to interfere with a peaceful campsite.
Keep your vehicle’s air filters clean, as the discarded “shells” or exuviae can sometimes get sucked into intakes if you are parked under a heavy canopy. A quick inspection of your radiator and vents every few days is a smart move.
Lastly, don’t be afraid of them! Cicadas do not bite or sting, and they are not poisonous to pets. They are simply clumsy, loud visitors who are here for a very short time to ensure the survival of their next generation.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Protect Plants from Cicadas
Will cicadas kill my mature trees?
In almost all cases, no. Mature trees are resilient and can handle the loss of some small branch tips without any long-term health issues. The damage is primarily aesthetic for established hardwoods.
Can I use pesticides to stop them?
It is not recommended. Cicadas emerge in such high numbers that you would have to spray almost daily to have an effect. This would be harmful to the environment and would kill beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
How long do I need to keep the netting on?
Usually, four to six weeks is sufficient. You should install the netting when you hear the first males singing and remove it once the noise has completely stopped and you no longer see live adults.
Are there any plants that cicadas won’t touch?
They generally avoid evergreens like pines, firs, and spruces because the sap can interfere with their egg-laying. They also tend to ignore flowers and vegetables, focusing instead on woody stems.
What is the best way to protect plants from cicadas if I have a whole orchard?
For large numbers of trees, focus on the youngest ones first. If netting everything is impossible, consider using a high-pressure water sprayer to knock them off daily and keep your trees as healthy as possible through deep watering.
Conclusion: Stay Calm and Garden On
Witnessing a periodical cicada emergence is a once-in-a-decade experience that reminds us of the incredible rhythms of the natural world. While the noise and the numbers can be overwhelming, your garden does not have to suffer.
By using fine mesh netting, timing your interventions with the soil temperature, and providing good post-emergence care, you can protect plants from cicadas and ensure your homestead continues to flourish. These simple, physical solutions are far more effective than chemicals and much safer for the birds and animals that share your space.
Take this time to observe the wonder of the brood, protect your most vulnerable saplings, and remember that this too shall pass. Your trees will grow back stronger, and the soil will be richer for the experience. Stay safe, stay prepared, and enjoy the wild side of nature!
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