By now you’ve heard the cicadas are coming. Entomologists predict the periodical cicada that are on a 17-year reproduction cycle will start emerging from the soil in mass within the
This weekend, the Spring Garden Festival returns to Chattanooga.
The Master Gardeners of Hamilton County - along with the University of Tennessee Extension - will present the outdoor festival on Saturday, starting at 10 AM, around the Hamilton County Extension Ag Center and Bonny Oaks Arboretum.
Alaina Dismukes
Both experts say that over time the slits made by the egg-laying cicadas can serve as openings to a number of diseases and pests that can damage the tree or fruit. Young trees, especially fruit trees, are most susceptible to damage from cicadas.
Suggested Event
Jun 15, 2021 to Jun 17, 2021
By now you’ve heard the cicadas are coming. In fact, they are practically here. Entomologists predict the periodical cicada that are on a 17-year reproduction cycle will start emerging from the soil in mass within the next several days, and some early emergence has been documented in parts of Tennessee. What you may not have heard is that those young fruit trees you planted this year, or maybe in the last few years, are in danger if you have a large cicada population in your area.
Cicadas are threat to young fruit trees, experts say
May 6, 2021
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The periodical cicadas that emerge every 17 years are due to show up again in Tennessee, and University of Tennessee Extension officials say they could threaten young fruit trees.
Trees are at risk if there is a large cicada population nearby, the university Institute of Agriculture said.
“Even a single female cicada may cause a lot of injury,” David Lockwood, a University of Tennessee Extension specialist who works with fruit and nut tree growers, said in a news release.
Some insecticides can be used to prevent damage, but blocking cicadas is more effective, extension entomologist Frank Hale said.
Itâs a sweet time in Middle Tennessee if you love the taste of strawberries.
While enjoying a fresh bowl of strawberries or your favorite strawberry enhanced dessert is wonderful, letâs take it a step further and preserve some strawberries to have when they are not in season.
Join the University of Tennessee Extension for learning on Zoom to learn how to safely freeze strawberries and tested methods of making strawberry jam. The Zoom event is Friday, May 21 at 10 a.m. The link to register for the online class is https://tiny.utk.edu/ExtensionExplores21.
More preserving foods trainings will occur on the third Friday of each month with a different topic using the same registration link.