To keep cicadas out of gardens, shield plants with 1/4-inch mesh, time new plantings, and prune after emergence ends.
Cicadas can blanket trees in a buzzing wave, and that can rattle any gardener. The good news: vegetables and most flowers aren’t targets. The real risk sits with small trees and woody shrubs where females place eggs in pencil-thin twigs. With a short window and the right steps, you can keep damage low and keep beds on track.
Keeping Cicadas Away From The Garden Beds: Fast Steps
Start with the quick plan below, then dig into the details that follow. This approach favors barriers and timing over sprays. When numbers surge, sprays don’t move the needle, while covers keep insects out every hour of the day.
| Method | Best Timing | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Fine Mesh Covers | Right before adult songs begin | Use netting with about 1/4–3/8-inch openings; wrap and tie at trunk or soil line so insects can’t crawl under. |
| Delay Planting | Spring in an emergence year | Hold off on new trees and shrubs until fall; plant annuals as usual. |
| Protect Only What’s At Risk | Weeks 1–6 of activity | Shield young fruit trees, ornamentals, and vines; skip mature trees and soft-stem veggies. |
| Prune After The Rush | Late season | Clip flagged twig tips once adults are gone to tidy shape and remove egg-laid wood. |
| Skim And Clean | Whole period | Clear netting, ponds, and skimmers; compost bodies to keep areas neat. |
Know The Threat Window
Adults surface once soil sits near the mid-60s °F a few inches down. Singing ramps up, mating follows, and females slice slits in twig tips to place eggs. That egg-laying is the plant injury that matters in home beds. The window usually runs four to six weeks, then noise fades, shells dry, and life returns to normal. A plan that lasts that long covers the whole arc.
What In The Yard Truly Needs Protection
Focus on young woody plants with green, pencil-thick twigs. That group includes apples, cherries, peaches, maples, redbuds, hawthorns, grapes, and many small ornamentals. Evergreens draw less attention. Soft-stem crops aren’t targets; insects might use them as ladders, but they don’t place eggs in soft tissue.
Why Barriers Beat Sprays
During peak weeks, numbers soar. Sprays knock down a few, but more arrive within minutes. Netting and tight covers block entry and deliver steadier results while keeping pollinators and birds safe. That’s the core of a low-risk, high-return plan for any yard.
Pick The Right Mesh And Install It The Right Way
Choose insect netting or breathable fabric with small openings. Aim for about 1/4-inch holes on home trees and shrubs. Some guides allow up to 3/8-inch on small trees; tighter mesh blocks clumsy fliers and avoids squeeze-throughs. Avoid bird netting with large diamonds; it doesn’t exclude these insects and can trap small wildlife.
Fast Install Walkthrough
- Drape fabric over the canopy before heavy singing starts.
- Pull edges down and gather them at the trunk or soil line.
- Tie off with soft cord, clips, or elastic so there are no gaps.
- Pad sharp branch tips with foam pipe wrap so they don’t punch holes.
- Leave covers on for 4–6 weeks, then remove to restore airflow and pollination.
Materials Checklist
- Insect netting or tulle with ~1/4-inch openings (precut panels save time).
- Soft ties, clothespins, or binder clips for trunk wraps and seams.
- Short step ladder for safe, quick draping over top growth.
- Foam pipe wrap or pool noodles for padding branch tips under fabric.
- Label tags and a storage tote for reuse next time.
Planting And Pruning Tactics That Save Work
Time New Trees
Craving a new apple or cherry the same spring a brood pops? Pause that cart. Plant in fall once adults are gone. The transplant settles in, roots anchor, and you skip months of babysitting with fabric and ties.
Shape Later, Not Now
Hold major pruning until the buzz fades. Any twig tip that turns brown from egg slits can be clipped back into healthy wood later. Large trees shrug off this minor “free pruning,” and new shoots fill in next season.
Garden Beds: What You Can Keep Doing
Keep sowing greens, carrots, beans, and summer crops. Keep herbs going. These insects don’t pierce soft annual stems for eggs, and adult feeding is minimal. Covers are only needed over beds if you want to reduce climbing on trellises or keep bugs off a wash station near the beds.
Row Covers For Veg Beds
- Set low hoops over the row and pull lightweight fabric across.
- Pin edges with landscape staples or bury a narrow edge of fabric.
- Lift edges for weeding and harvest; re-pin after.
- Pull the cover once peak weeks pass to let flowers see pollinators.
Simple Yard Tweaks That Help
- Run outdoor lights only when needed; warm-tone bulbs attract fewer flying insects at night.
- Keep nets tidy. Shake off leaves and shells so fabric doesn’t sag and rub foliage.
- Cover small ponds with mesh to keep filters from clogging; skim daily during peaks.
- Rake shells into compost. Bodies add minerals back to the soil and break down fast.
What Not To Do
Skip glue bands or sticky wraps on trunks. Those traps catch songbirds and small mammals. Skip blanket spraying in yards. Broad sprays miss the mark and can harm many helpful insects that keep pests in check later in the season. A tight cover beats a tank mix here.
Mesh, Timing, And Targets: Quick Planner
Use this planner to select the right action for each plant type and size. Print it as a field card and hang it near your tools.
| Plant Or Size | Risk Level | Best Action |
|---|---|---|
| Newly Planted Trees (Year 1–3) | High | Cover with 1/4–3/8-inch mesh; tie at trunk; remove after 4–6 weeks. |
| Fruit Trees 4–10 Feet Tall | Medium | Net if a large share of twigs are pencil-thick; prune brown tips later. |
| Mature Shade Trees | Low | Skip covers; accept minor tip “flagging.” |
| Woody Shrubs And Vines | Medium | Wrap with fabric during peak weeks; secure at the base. |
| Vegetables, Herbs, Annual Flowers | Low | No special action; use light row cover only to reduce nuisance climbing. |
Troubleshooting Netting Problems
The Canopy Is Tall And Hard To Cover
Protect the part that matters most: new growth with pencil-thick twigs. On a taller tree, a partial drape over the top third can be enough. Use a telescoping pole to guide fabric and clip it before it slips.
The Fabric Keeps Sagging
Shake off shells and leaves daily so panels stay light. Run a few soft ties across the canopy like guy lines. If a branch pokes through, pad it with foam and re-drape.
I See Gaps Near The Trunk
Use a soft bungee or cord to cinch fabric right above the flare. Tuck stray folds down into mulch, then pin the skirt with landscape staples to stop crawl-ins.
Wind Keeps Lifting Covers
Pin the skirt every 18–24 inches and add a few clips higher up. A snug wrap around the trunk stops wind from ballooning the panel like a sail.
Myths And Facts
- Myth: “They chew vegetable leaves.” Fact: Adults seek woody twigs for eggs and don’t target lettuce, beans, or herbs.
- Myth: “More spray equals fewer insects.” Fact: Waves keep arriving; sprays fade fast and bring side effects.
- Myth: “Sticky bands help on trunks.” Fact: Those traps snare birds and small mammals; skip them.
- Myth: “Big shade trees must be covered.” Fact: Large trees ride it out with minor tip browning that looks like light pruning.
- Myth: “Mulch interferes with their life cycle.” Fact: Normal mulch depths don’t matter here; keep beds mulched as usual.
Step-By-Step Plan For A Calm Season
Two Weeks Before First Songs
- Walk the yard and list any small trees or woody vines with green twigs.
- Measure canopies and cut pieces of netting in advance.
- Set aside ties, clothespins, or binder clips for quick installs.
- Stage a rake, bin, and gloves for shell cleanup later.
Week 1–2: Peak Noise
- Cover target plants. Check the base wrap each evening.
- Skim pools, ponds, and skimmers to keep water flowing.
- Harvest produce as usual; set a canopy over your wash table if you prefer.
Week 3–6: Wind-Down
- Watch for brown, drooping twig tips in small trees.
- Keep covers on until songs stop. Air plants out right after.
- Prune dead tips back to a strong side branch once leaves crisp.
Bird- And Pollinator-Safe Habits
Keep trunk wraps free of sticky surfaces. Set fine mesh snugly so birds can’t slip under. Run porch and path lights only when needed; warm-tone bulbs draw fewer fliers, and that means less nighttime commotion and fewer by-catch risks near nets.
Regional Timing Notes
Annual species show up in summer every year. Periodical broods rise in late spring on a 13- or 17-year rhythm, depending on region. Local Extension pages flag dates each spring and share quick alerts when singing starts. Watch soil temps, listen for the first chorus, then drape fabric that same week.
Cleanup And Aftercare
Once songs fade, roll up covers, clip out browned tips on small trees, and plant any new shrubs you held back. Skim ponds one last time and empty skimmer baskets. Rake shells into compost to keep paths neat. Label each panel by tree and store it dry so you can reuse it without guesswork next time.
Why This Plan Matches What The Experts Say
Extension guides stress barriers during peak weeks and note that soft-stem crops aren’t targets. Government advice lays out a clear mesh size rule and points out that small trees face the real risk, while large trees ride out the season with only tip loss. You get better results with netting than with broad sprays, and you protect the helpers that make a yard thrive.
Final Sweep: A Clean, Quiet Yard
With a short list—cover the right plants, hold new tree installs for fall, prune after—the yard stays calm. The noise fades, beds keep producing, and shrubs come through fine. Save your panels, keep your checklist with the pruners, and next cycle will feel like routine yard work rather than a scramble.
Sources: See expert guidance on mesh size and non-spray tactics from the EPA cicada page, and a detailed Extension overview on plant targets and netting from the University of Maryland Extension.