Best Plants to Grow to Deter 13-Year Periodical Cicadas

Periodical cicadas are among the most fascinating and notorious insects in North America, known for their synchronized emergence every 13 or 17 years. These cicadas, especially the 13-year species, can cause significant damage to young trees and garden plants during their mass emergence. While they do not bite or sting, their egg-laying habits can harm woody plants, making it crucial for gardeners and landscapers to find natural ways to deter them.

In this article, we will explore the best plants to grow that can help deter 13-year periodical cicadas and protect your garden or landscape from their potential damage.

Understanding 13-Year Periodical Cicadas

Before diving into the best plants that deter cicadas, it’s important to understand their lifecycle and behavior:

• Lifecycle: These cicadas spend 13 years underground as nymphs feeding on tree roots. They emerge as adults in massive numbers during a single year, mate, lay eggs in tree branches, and then die off.
• Damage: The primary damage comes from female cicadas cutting slits into small branches to lay eggs. This can cause “flagging,” where the tips of branches die back.
• Target Plants: Cicadas prefer hardwood trees like oak, maple, hickory, and fruit trees such as apple, peach, and cherry. Young trees with thin branches suffer the most.

Why Use Plants to Deter Cicadas?

While chemical pesticides can be used against cicadas, they often have limited effectiveness and are harmful to beneficial insects and the environment. Using certain plants that cicadas avoid or that confuse them is a sustainable way to reduce cicada damage without chemicals.

Best Plants to Grow to Deter 13-Year Periodical Cicadas

1. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Why it works: Lavender is well-known for its strong fragrance that repels a variety of insects. The aromatic oils in lavender leaves and flowers mask the scent of nearby host trees, making it harder for cicadas to locate suitable egg-laying sites.

Growing tips:
– Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
– It’s drought-tolerant once established.
– Plant around young trees or garden beds as a fragrant barrier.

2. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)

Why it works: Marigolds produce compounds called thiophenes that repel many insects including aphids and nematodes. Though there is less direct evidence on cicadas, gardeners frequently report reduced insect activity near marigolds due to these natural chemicals.

Growing tips:
– Plant marigolds at the base of trees or along garden edges.
– They bloom profusely throughout summer and fall.
– Prefers full sun and average soil.

3. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Why it works: Catnip contains nepetalactone, which is an effective insect repellent against mosquitoes and other pests. Its strong scent can confuse or repel cicadas as well.

Growing tips:
– Catnip is hardy and grows well in most soils with moderate watering.
– It tolerates partial shade but prefers full sun for better foliage production.
– Use as a border plant near young trees.

4. Garlic (Allium sativum)

Why it works: Garlic emits sulfur-containing compounds like allicin that many insects find unappealing. Planting garlic around vulnerable trees may help reduce cicada egg-laying by interfering with their sensory systems.

Growing tips:
– Plant garlic cloves in fall for harvest the following summer.
– Prefers loose, well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight.
– Can be interplanted with other garden plants for pest deterrence.

5. Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

Why it works: Peppermint has a strong menthol aroma that repels many insects including aphids and flies. Its scent likely discourages cicadas from settling nearby.

Growing tips:
– Peppermint spreads aggressively; contain it in pots or raised beds.
– Prefers moist soil with partial to full sun exposure.
– Harvest leaves regularly to promote growth and fragrance.

6. Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum spp.)

Why it works: Chrysanthemums produce pyrethrins , natural insecticides used in many organic sprays. Their presence can reduce insect populations including leafhoppers and possibly cicadas.

Growing tips:
– Grow chrysanthemums in sunny spots with rich soil.
– Deadhead spent flowers to encourage prolonged blooming period through late summer and fall.

7. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Why it works: Rosemary’s strong woody fragrance can act as a natural insect repellent, deterring many pests from nearby plants.

Growing tips:
– Thrives in dry, sunny locations with well-drained soil.
– Prune regularly to maintain bushy growth useful as a natural screen around small trees.

Additional Natural Methods to Protect Plants During Cicada Emergence

Along with planting deterrents, consider these methods:

Netting Young Trees

Covering young saplings with fine mesh netting during peak egg-laying times physically prevents female cicadas from laying eggs on branches.

Pruning Before Emergence

Removing weak or thin branches prior to emergence reduces potential egg-laying sites and minimizes damage.

Mulching and Soil Care

Healthy soil promotes robust root systems less affected by nymph feeding underground.

Plants That Attract Beneficial Predators of Cicadas

Encouraging predatory birds and insects can naturally control cicada populations:

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) attracts predatory wasps and birds.
• Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) provide seeds for birds.
• Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) attract parasitic wasps.

Planting these alongside deterrents helps maintain ecological balance.

Summary: Creating a Cicada-Safe Garden Ecosystem

While no single plant guarantees complete protection against 13-year periodical cicadas, combining multiple deterrent plants around vulnerable trees provides an effective ecological barrier. Lavender, marigolds, catnip, garlic, peppermint, chrysanthemums, and rosemary have natural properties that deter these insects through scent masking or chemical repellence.

Incorporate these plants into your landscape design along with physical protection methods like netting and proper pruning for best results during periodic cicada emergences.

By understanding cicada behavior and harnessing nature’s own defenses through strategic planting, gardeners can safeguard their green spaces while promoting biodiversity-friendly pest management, ensuring healthy trees long after the next spectacular 13-year event subsides!