How To Keep Cicadas Away

If you’re hearing that familiar, high-pitched buzzing and seeing clumsy fliers bump into everything, you know cicada season is in full swing. Learning how to keep cicadas away is the key to enjoying your outdoor space without these noisy visitors. While they don’t bite or sting, their sheer numbers and noise can be overwhelming, and they can cause damage to young trees and shrubs. This guide gives you clear, effective pest control methods to protect your garden and your peace.

First, it’s important to understand your opponent. Cicadas spend most of their life underground as nymphs, feeding on tree roots. They emerge in massive numbers to mate, lay eggs, and then die. The females cut slits into small branches to deposit eggs, which can cause “flagging” – where the ends of branches wilt and die. The goal isn’t to eliminate them entirely (that’s nearly impossible during a major emergence) but to protect your most valuable plants and reduce their presence in high-traffic areas.

Physical Barriers: Your First Line of Defense

This is the most effective and environmentally friendly method for protecting specific plants. By blocking access, you prevent egg-laying and keep cicadas off plants.

Netting is Essential: Use fine mesh netting (1/4 inch or smaller) to cover young trees, prized shrubs, and garden plants. Drape it over the entire canopy and secure it tightly at the trunk base to prevent cicadas from crawling up from below. Make sure to put netting on before you see or hear them, as early action is best.
Protect Tree Trunks: Wrap tree trunks with a barrier like horticultural tape or a band of foil. Apply a sticky substance like Tanglefoot to the barrier to trap nymphs climbing up to molt or adults climbing up to reach leaves.
Cover Vegetable Gardens: Use floating row covers over your vegetable beds. This protects tender plants and keeps cicadas from landing on them.

Cultural and Habitat Modifications

Making your yard less inviting can significantly reduce cicada numbers. They prefer certain trees and are attracted to the sound of other cicadas.

Delay New Plantings: If a major brood emergence is predicted for your area, avoid planting new young trees the year before or during the emergence. Young trees are the most vulnerable to branch damage from egg-laying.
Prune Strategically: Light pruning after an emergence can remove egg-laying sites (the flagged branches) and improve tree health. However, avoid heavy pruning during an emergence, as the fresh cuts can attract females.
Reduce Outdoor Lighting: At night, turn off unnecessary outdoor lights. Cicadas, like many insects, are drawn to lights, which can increase the numbers congregating around your home.

Safe and Targeted Removal Methods

When cicadas are already present, you can use direct methods to manage their population on your property.

The Hose-Off: A strong jet of water from your garden hose can knock cicadas off plants and structures. They are slow and awkward, so this disrupts them effectively. It’s a simple, chemical-free option.
Hand-Picking: For small gardens or prized plants, you can pick cicadas off by hand (wear gloves if you’re squeamish) and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. This is very targeted but time-consuming.
Vacuum Them Up: Use a shop vacuum to remove cicadas from patios, siding, and small trees. Empty the bag or canister into a sealed bag and dispose of it. This sounds silly, but it’s surprisingly effective for clearing areas.

What About Insecticides?

Most experts strongly advise against using broad-spectrum insecticides for cicadas. The emergences are so large that spraying won’t make a meaningful dent, and you’ll end up harming beneficial insects, birds, and wildlife that feed on cicadas. The risks outweigh any minor benefit. Sticky traps can also catch beneficial insects and are not generally recommended as a primary control.

Long-Term Landscape Planning

Thinking ahead can save you alot of hassle during future cicada cycles. They have predictable patterns, so you can plan your landscape around them.

Choose Resistant Trees: Cicadas prefer some trees over others. They love oaks, maples, fruit trees, and roses. They tend to avoid conifers (pines, spruces), very thick-barked trees, and some strong-scented plants.
Encourage Natural Predators: Birds, squirrels, and even pets love to eat cicadas. Having a bird-friendly yard with feeders and baths can boost the natural predator population that will help control cicadas for you.
Accept the Cycle: Remember, periodical cicada emergences are a natural phenomenon that lasts only 4-6 weeks. Tolerating them when possible supports the local ecosystem, as their bodies provide a huge nutrient boost to soil after they die.

Protecting Specific Areas: Patios, Pools, and Pets

Cicadas don’t just stay in the trees. They end up everywhere, which can be a nusance.

For Swimming Pools: Use a pool cover when not in use. Skim cicadas out regularly to prevent them from clogging filters. A well-maintained pool filter should handle them, but check it more often.
For Outdoor Living Spaces: Patio umbrellas, screens, and even temporary pop-up canopies can create a cicada-free zone for eating and relaxing. Fans on your patio can also help blow them away, as they are not strong fliers.
For Pets: Dogs, especially, may eat too many cicadas, leading to stomach upset or a blockage. Monitor your pets outside and discourage excessive snacking. A few are fine, but a dozen is too many.

Clean-Up After the Emergence

Once the buzzing stops, you’re left with thousands of shells and bodies. Here’s how to manage the clean-up efficiently.

Rake up shells and bodies from lawns and garden beds. They are great for compost! They break down quickly and add nitrogen.
If the smell of decaying bodies becomes a problem, rake and bag them for municipal pickup. Don’t let large piles sit on tender grass, as they can smother it.
Continue to water and care for your trees. The natural pruning from egg-laying is usually not harmful to mature, healthy trees, and they will recover on there own.

FAQ: Common Questions About Cicada Control

Q: What is the fastest way to get rid of cicadas?
A: There’s no instant “get rid of” solution for a large emergence. The fastest method for protecting a specific plant is to cover it with fine mesh netting immediately.

Q: Do cicada repellents or sprays work?
A: There are no EPA-registered repellents specifically for cicadas. General insect sprays are ineffective against such large numbers and harm other wildlife. Focus on physical barriers instead.

Q: How do I keep cicadas off my house?
A: Keep windows and doors shut, ensure screens are intact, and turn off exterior lights at night. You can also spray the outside of your house with a strong stream of water to dislodge them.

Q: Will cicadas harm my mature trees?
A: Healthy, mature trees typically withstand cicada egg-laying with no long-term damage. The branch flagging looks bad but is akin to a natural pruning. The main concern is for young trees under 4-5 years old.

Q: When should I put up netting?
A: Install netting as soon as you hear the first cicadas singing or see the first ones appear. It’s better to be a bit early than to late, as the females start laying eggs soon after they emerge.

By combining these strategies—especially proactive netting and smart landscape choices—you can significantly reduce the impact of cicadas on your property. The goal is manageble coexistence, not a futile war. With a little preparation, you can enjoy your summer despite the buzz.