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Several members have asked for our take on the double brood of cicadas that will be emerging from the ground this spring and how they should prepare their garden. These two broods are in addition to the usual summer cicadas we have in August.
From listening to the Illinois Cooperative Extension webinar and reading horticulture and university reports, these are some things to know about the Cicada Invasion of 2024.
Soil temperature matters for the emergence. As a result, we anticipate the cicadas to start appearing in mid-May.
And yes! It will be very loud with more cicadas than usual!
Garden plants (annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs) should be unharmed.
Female cicadas lay their eggs in young woody plant material (tree twigs and possibly shrubs with stem sizes from about a pencil width and smaller). But more likely up in the trees where we usually hear the cicadas since that is where they mate.
Young trees with a truck diameter of 2" or less, unhealthy mature trees and possibly shrubs are at risk for damage.
Protect a young tree with a fine mesh tree netting (similar to tulle) that can be found on the internet for purchase. Cover the tree after the leaves have opened in early May.
Remove the netting after Fourth of July and you are not hearing cicadas.
Young trees and shrubs can still be planted in the spring, but plan on using a mesh netting cover for all of those plants.
Mid-July shrub planting should be okay though, not the best time because of heat, so extra watering will be needed for success.
If you plan to plant trees this year, it is recommended that you wait until the fall.
If you would like to learn more about Cicadas, follow this link to an informative article, written by our teammate and Naperville Plant Club leader Kate Refine.
In addition to managing the Club and sharing insights about plants with members in the Naperville area, Kate is a landscape designer who offers professional customized landscaping services including landscape design and garden coaching, through Kate Refine Designs. Throughout the process of landscape designs, KRD practices sustainable landscaping efforts while employing the best management practices to keep the environment free of pesticides and herbicides.
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