You’ve probably noticed the large numbers of cicadas flying around since late May. These periodical cicadas emerge every 17 years along the east coast, and — you guessed it! — 2021 is the year. As soil temps near 64 degrees, these insects will come up from the ground, shed their skin and then hang out in trees to begin mating.
Brood X cicadas’ lifespan is just 4—6 weeks, so we should expect them to die off in late June and early July if the weather is warm and dry. They will not damage your flowers or vegetables, because they nest in trees. Your mature trees will likely fare just fine, but if you’re worried about your younger trees or saplings, follow these tips:
- Cover with landscape netting
- Wrap the trunks (as well as where the branches meet the trunk) with cheesecloth or foil tape
- Avoid using pesticides, essential oils, or bleach. All of these are ineffective and could potentially harm your trees or soil!
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