How to repair your tree after cicada damage

Found cicada damage in your tree and not sure what to do about it? On this week's episode of the Gardening Tips podcast, the Chicago Botanic Garden's Jacob Burns talks about how to revive your tree after cicada damage.

After mating, female cicadas lay their eggs inside the branch tips of trees. With her ovipositor, she slices wounds in stems the size of a pencil or less. These wounded sections often wilt and then die. Mature trees can afford to lose some twigs. But on younger plants, a loss of too many branches can disfigure the shape.

To make the tree presentable, you may prune the dead portions off now. Allow future cicadas to live on by placing these trimmed twigs in a moist shady spot around a mature tree. The eggs will hatch in 6-8 weeks and head underground starting a new generation. If your young tree needs drastic shaping, wait until late winter when the tree is dormant and can handle the extra pruning. With time, your tree should appear symmetrical again.

Every Saturday, listen to a new episode of the Gardening Tips podcast for timely tips on all things plants, gardens and the great outdoors. Look for the latest episode here.

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