Natural Remedies for Preventing Bush Cicada Damage to Plants

Bush cicadas, with their loud calls and distinctive presence, are a common sight in many gardens and natural landscapes. While they are fascinating insects that play an important role in ecosystems as food for birds and other wildlife, their nymphs and adults can sometimes cause damage to plants. Gardeners and landscapers often seek effective ways to protect their plants without resorting to harsh chemicals. This article explores natural remedies for preventing bush cicada damage to plants, offering eco-friendly strategies that maintain garden health and biodiversity.

Understanding Bush Cicada Damage

Before diving into prevention methods, it’s essential to understand how bush cicadas affect plants. Cicadas go through a life cycle that includes underground nymph stages and above-ground adult stages:

• Nymph Stage: Cicada nymphs live underground for several years, feeding on sap from plant roots. While this feeding is usually not fatal to mature plants, young or stressed plants can suffer from reduced vigor.
• Adult Stage: Adult females lay eggs by cutting slits into small branches or twigs. This egg-laying behavior can cause twig dieback known as “flagging,” which stresses the plant and makes it vulnerable to disease or other pests.

Damage is often more pronounced in young trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants with tender branches. Therefore, protecting these plants during cicada emergence periods is crucial.

Natural Remedies to Prevent Bush Cicada Damage

1. Physical Barriers

One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect plants from cicadas’ egg-laying damage is by using physical barriers.

• Netting: Use fine mesh netting or garden fabric with openings smaller than the size of adult cicadas (approximately 1 inch) to cover young trees and shrubs during peak cicada emergence. Secure the netting around the trunk base and ensure it extends beyond the branch tips.
• Tree Wraps: For smaller branches or twigs, applying tree wraps or protective sleeves can prevent females from accessing the bark.

Physical barriers are chemical-free and provide immediate protection without impacting beneficial insects.

2. Encourage Natural Predators

Cicadas have many natural enemies that help keep their populations in check.

• Birds: Many species of birds feed on cicadas. Attract birds by installing bird feeders, birdbaths, and nesting boxes around your garden. Native bird species particularly help reduce cicada numbers.
• Parasitic Wasps: Some wasp species parasitize cicada eggs or nymphs. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that harm these beneficial wasps.
• Small Mammals: Animals like squirrels and raccoons also consume cicadas. Providing natural habitat features such as shrubs and ground cover supports these predators.

Allowing nature to balance cicada populations minimizes damage naturally over time.

3. Pruning Damaged Branches

Regular pruning can help manage damage caused by cicada egg-laying.

• Remove twigs or branches showing signs of “flagging” (dead or dying shoots).
• Prune during dormant seasons to reduce stress on plants.
• Proper pruning stimulates new growth which can outpace damage from cicadas.

Disposing of pruned material far from the garden prevents reinfestation nearby.

4. Plant Selection and Placement

Certain plant choices can reduce vulnerability to cicada damage.

• Resistant Species: Some tree species are less attractive or more tolerant to cicada egg-laying. Examples include oaks, maples, and fruit trees like cherries which may handle damage better.
• Diverse Plantings: Avoid monocultures; a diversity of plant species reduces the chance of widespread damage.
• Placement: Position more susceptible plants away from heavily infested areas or use companion planting to deter cicadas.

Good landscape planning supports overall garden resilience.

5. Organic Sprays and Repellents

While there are no sprays that kill adult cicadas effectively without harming beneficial insects, some organic treatments can repel them or make plants less attractive:

• Neem Oil: Neem oil disrupts insect feeding and reproduction; applying it during early stages can reduce egg-laying.
• Garlic Spray: Homemade sprays made from garlic extracts have insect-repellent properties.
• Soap Solutions: Mild insecticidal soaps can deter some pests; however, their efficacy against cicadas varies.

Apply these treatments carefully to avoid damaging plant leaves or beneficial fauna.

6. Soil Health Management

Healthy soil supports vigorous root systems that withstand nymph feeding better.

• Amend soil with organic compost regularly to improve texture and nutrient availability.
• Maintain proper watering practices; avoid drought stress that weakens plants.
• Mulch around the base of trees conserves moisture and improves soil microbes.

Strong roots help plants cope with underground nymph feeding without significant decline.

7. Timing Interventions Strategically

Cicada emergence happens in predictable cycles depending on species—some emerge annually while others follow longer cycles (e.g., 13 or 17 years).

• Monitor local emergence reports through extension services or community alerts.
• Time your physical barriers, pruning, and organic treatments just before peak adult emergence.

This focused approach maximizes effectiveness while minimizing work.

Additional Tips for Gardeners

• Avoid Overfertilizing: Excess nitrogen encourages soft growth favored by cicadas for egg-laying.
• Water Deeply but Infrequently: Encourages deep root growth less affected by nymph feeding.
• Keep Garden Clean: Remove fallen leaves and debris that may harbor nymphs or attract predators away from target plants.

Implement these habits year-round for healthier, more resilient garden ecosystems.

When to Consider Professional Help

In some cases where large mature trees experience severe damage or when dealing with valuable orchards, consulting an arborist or pest control professional may be necessary. They can offer tailored advice on integrated pest management (IPM), including possible targeted interventions if natural remedies alone do not suffice.

Conclusion

Bush cicadas are an integral part of many ecosystems but managing their potential damage to plants requires careful balance. Using natural remedies such as physical barriers, encouraging predators, proper pruning, smart plant selection, organic repellents, soil health management, and strategic timing offers sustainable protection without harming the environment.

By adopting these eco-friendly strategies, gardeners can enjoy healthy plants while coexisting peacefully with these remarkable insects whose distinctive chorus marks the rhythms of nature’s cycles. With patience and proactive care, bush cicada damage can be minimized effectively—preserving both garden beauty and biodiversity for years to come.