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How to Protect Your Home from Cicadas – A DIY Guide

How to Protect Your Home from

– A DIY Guide

Cicadas are fascinating insects, known for their unique life cycle and the loud, distinctive sounds that male cicadas use to attract mates. However, when they emerge en masse, they can also be quite a nuisance to homeowners, potentially harming young trees and leaving behind a mess. If you’re bracing for a cicada season, here’s a DIY guide to protect your home and garden without resorting to harsh chemicals or expensive professional services.

Understanding Cicadas

Before we jump into protection strategies, a little understanding of these insects is necessary. Cicadas are harmless to humans; they don’t bite or sting. However, their sheer numbers can be overwhelming, and they can cause damage to young trees as they lay their eggs. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to safeguard your property.

Cover and Shield Young Trees

One of the most effective ways to guard against cicadas is by using nets or covers for your young trees. Here’s how you can do it:

Purchase fine mesh netting that cicadas cannot penetrate.
Drape the netting over the entire canopy of the tree.
Secure the netting at the base with stakes or weights to prevent cicadas from getting underneath.

This will prevent the female cicadas from laying eggs on the branches, which could lead to the branches splitting.

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Seal Entries to Your Home

Cicadas can accidentally enter homes, which can be unnerving. To avoid this:

Check your window screens for holes or damage and repair them as needed.
Seal any gaps or cracks in your doors and windows with weather-stripping.
Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible during the peak of the cicada emergence.

Maintain a Clean Yard

Cicadas are attracted to areas where they can easily lay eggs. By keeping your yard clean and clutter-free, you can make your property less appealing. Ensure that:

Grass is cut regularly.
Branches and dead plants are removed promptly.
Woodpiles are neatly stacked and located away from tree trunks.

Manual Removal

If you notice cicadas on your beloved plants or near your home, you can remove them manually:

Put on a pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands.
Gently pick the cicadas up and place them into a bucket.
Relocate them to a neutral area far from your garden, if possible.

Post-Cicada Cleanup

After the cicadas have finished their above-ground life cycle and died off, you’ll need to clean up:

Sweep up any dead cicadas to prevent decay and odor on your property.
Remove the protective netting from trees and store it for future use if needed.
Repair any damages to plants or young trees caused by cicadas egg-laying.

Cicadas are a natural part of the ecosystem, and while they can be an annoyance, they aren’t a danger to you or your family. With these DIY strategies, you can minimize the inconvenience that accompanies a cicada emergence and keep your home and garden in great shape.

Conclusion

With some preparation and patience, protecting your home from cicadas is manageable. These simple and humane tips will help ensure that your property remains cicada-free without causing harm to these intriguing creatures. Remember, cicada emergences don’t happen every year, so these efforts will be temporary but very worth it. Happy gardening!

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For homeowners and garden enthusiasts, don’t forget to share your own tips and experiences with cicadas in the comments below. Together, we can support each other through cicada season!