Millions of cicadas are expected to emerge from the ground any day.

Did you know…

Most believe this year’s Cicada Season will strip everything in sight. Not true. Smaller trees with thin branches are most at risk. Most commonly oak, maple and fruit trees, but damage can occur to any woody plant. Many familiar insects hatch, eat, mate, and die in a single season. Periodical cicadas hatch, suck sap from grasses for nourishment, then dig their way underground to subsist on food from plant roots. Cicadas emerged when the soil temperature reaches 65°F. I remember their last visit and how fascinated our children were.

This summer, you might want to turn your eyes to the trees.

We are in a bit of a conundrum here at Steele Oaks. With an upcoming solar plant taking up much of our blessed country view starting in January of next year, we have been planting fast growing trees and spruces to block out this soon-to-be eyesore. Unless your in a situation like ours, this is not the time to plant young trees. I would suggest waiting until next year.

Protecting your parcel

If you too have planted trees or were planning to, there are ways to protect the branches from the swarm of egg laying females.

First, there’s no insecticide — so please don’t go wasting your money and poisoning everything.

What we did, and what is most recommended, is that you actually cover your young and most vulnerable trees with netting, (Bird netting will not work, so be sure you research the right kind or you are just fight the wind there.)

Wrap your trees, bushes and shrubs in netting with holes 1 cm or smaller to keep cicadas off your plants. You can use fine mesh insect netting or barrier plant bags for individual trees or shrubs.

Cicadas are mostly beneficial.

They prune mature trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies serve as an important source of nitrogen for growing trees.

There is always something good to be found in everything.

When cicadas come out, they’re eaten by just about anything with an insectivorous diet. Pets will go crazy, and bass love them. I suspect many avid fisherman won’t be buying those expensive lures this season.

We personally are planning a fly fishing trip this summer. I’ve never been. I’m thinking its the perfect time.

Check with your local state and discover what free fishing days are available in your area.

To conclude:

Cover your trees.

Buy some earphones before things start to get annoyingly loud.

Make the best of it, and go fishing….