Tips for Reducing 13-Year Periodical Cicada Egg-Laying in Gardens

Periodical cicadas, especially the 13-year species, are fascinating yet sometimes troublesome insects that emerge in large numbers once every thirteen years. While their emergence is a remarkable natural event, their egg-laying habits can cause significant damage to young trees and garden plants. For gardeners concerned about protecting their plants from cicada damage, understanding how to reduce egg-laying activity is critical. This article provides practical tips and strategies for minimizing the impact of 13-year periodical cicadas in your garden.

Understanding the 13-Year Periodical Cicada

Before diving into prevention methods, it’s important to understand the life cycle and behaviors of periodical cicadas:

• Life cycle: These cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, feeding on root sap. After 13 years, they emerge en masse as adults.
• Emergence: Adult cicadas typically emerge in late spring or early summer, depending on your region.
• Mating and egg-laying: Adult females lay eggs by cutting slits into small twigs or branches and depositing eggs inside. This can cause “flagging,” where the twig dies and drops off.
• Duration: The adult stage lasts only a few weeks. After mating and egg-laying, adults die, and the cycle begins anew underground.

The main concern for gardeners is the damage caused by females during egg deposition. Young trees and shrubs are particularly vulnerable.

Why Reduce Cicada Egg-Laying in Gardens?

While periodical cicadas do not feed on leaves or fruit in their adult stage, and thus don’t directly reduce yields, their egg-laying behavior can:

• Kill small branches or twigs, reducing plant vigor.
• Stress young trees, making them more susceptible to diseases.
• Cause cosmetic damage to ornamental shrubs and trees.

In large emergences, these effects can be significant. Therefore, proactive management helps maintain healthy gardens during cicada years.

Tips for Reducing 13-Year Periodical Cicada Egg-Laying

1. Protect Young Trees with Physical Barriers

One of the most effective methods to prevent egg-laying damage is to physically exclude cicadas from trees:

• Netting or Cloth Covers: Use fine mesh netting (such as nylon insect netting with mesh size less than 1/4 inch) to cover young trees and shrubs before cicadas emerge.
• Timing: Install covers early in the season, around the expected emergence date, and keep them on until the adults die off (usually 4-6 weeks).
• Secure Edges: Make sure the netting is anchored securely at the base of plants so cicadas cannot crawl underneath.

This barrier prevents females from reaching twigs to lay eggs without affecting pollination if properly timed.

2. Prune Dead or Damaged Branches Promptly

After initial egg-laying starts causing twig dieback (flagging), prune those affected branches:

• Prune dead or damaged twigs about 8-12 inches below affected areas.
• Dispose of pruned material far from your garden since hatched nymphs drop to the ground.

This reduces stress on plants and removes sites where more eggs might be laid.

3. Avoid Planting Vulnerable Species Before Emergence

Some tree species are more susceptible to cicada egg-laying damage:

• Avoid planting tender young trees such as maples, oaks, dogwoods, birches, or fruit trees just before a known cicada emergence year.
• If you must plant during this time, prioritize mature stock or use protective coverings.

Timing your planting schedule around the cicada cycle can decrease vulnerability.

4. Maintain Plant Health Through Proper Care

Healthy plants can better tolerate minor damage caused by cicadas:

• Water regularly during dry periods.
• Fertilize appropriately based on soil tests.
• Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and reduce stress.

Strong plants will recover faster from twig dieback.

5. Use Sticky Bands Sparingly

Sticky bands wrapped around tree trunks can trap cicadas as they climb up to reach branches, but this method has drawbacks:

• Sticky bands may also catch beneficial insects or birds.
• They require frequent monitoring and replacement.

If used carefully on small trees, sticky bands might reduce adult populations locally but are not a foolproof solution.

6. Encourage Natural Predators

Several predators feed on adult cicadas or their nymphs:

• Birds such as blue jays, crows, and sparrows
• Small mammals like squirrels
• Predatory insects including wasps

Encouraging wildlife diversity by providing birdhouses or native plant habitats may help control cicada populations naturally over time.

7. Avoid Chemical Insecticides

Chemical insecticides are generally ineffective against adult periodical cicadas due to their short active period and sheer numbers. Additionally:

• Widespread spraying can harm beneficial insects including pollinators.

Therefore, insecticide use is not recommended for managing periodical cicadas in gardens.

8. Timing Garden Activities Around Cicada Emergence

Knowing when periodical cicadas will emerge allows better timing of interventions:

• Consult local extension offices or online databases to confirm expected emergence years in your area.
• Prepare physical barriers ahead of time.
• Delay sensitive pruning or planting activities until after emergence subsides.

Planning reduces surprises and maximizes preventive efforts.

Additional Considerations

Understanding Cicada Cycle Variability

While named “13-year,” some periodical cicada broods may have slight variations in emergence timing due to environmental factors such as temperature. Monitoring local reports each year leading up to the expected emergence improves preparedness.

Large Scale Landscape Management

For landscapers managing larger properties with many trees:

• Collaborate with arborists for preventive netting on valuable specimens.
• Implement pruning programs post-emergence annually.

Such coordinated efforts ensure landscape-wide protection.

Conclusion

The appearance of 13-year periodical cicadas is an awe-inspiring natural phenomenon but can pose challenges for gardeners due to female egg-laying damage on twigs and young branches. By employing a combination of physical barriers like fine mesh netting, promptly pruning damaged branches, maintaining plant health through proper care, avoiding vulnerable plantings before emergence, and encouraging natural predators, gardeners can significantly reduce cicada-related harm.

Avoiding chemical insecticides and planning garden activities around emergence periods further protects your plants while respecting this unique insect lifecycle. With preparation and vigilance, you can enjoy your garden even during massive periodical cicada events while minimizing their impact on your trees and shrubs.

References & Resources:

• Your local cooperative extension service
• University entomology departments
• Online databases tracking periodical cicada emergences
• Gardening forums with regional experience reports