One of the things that are most unique and loved about the area we live in are the abundance of mature shade trees. Live Oak, American Elm, Pecan, Red Oak, Hackberry, and on and on. But, take a look around now and you will see that all is not good in many, many yards and parks. A very large number are havens for mistletoe. It’s those clumps of bright green foliage you see growing from branches and clinging to the sides of the tree trunks.
Mistletoe is a parasite. It exists in stressed trees and it causes them even more stress. Mistletoe derives its sustenance from the tree, sucking from it nutrition and water. In fact, it grabs the water from the tree before the tree even has a chance to use that water itself. This can be particularly harmful in times of drought. Eventually, left unchecked, those trees will die a slow death.
There are really only two ways to mitigate the devastation of mistletoe and that is treatment with Florel in the spring, or by cutting it off. I am normally not one to advocate chemicals in gardening (we’re organic). But, if you have a bad infestation, it may be the solution of choice if cutting does not do any good over a season or two.
Cutting does not usually kill the mistletoe from a tree trunk (its roots can run deep), but it stops it in its tracks for a year or so. That’s what I have been doing to the Hackberries in our yard. I know that, in many circles, a Hackberry is considered a trash tree, but we would rather have shade in the yard than lose three 25+ year old trees!
So, get a hold of your tree person right away and get that mistletoe out of your trees. Save a tree on the parkway next to your house, too. It’s the green thing to do.
