Winter is Prime Time to Manage Mistletoe

Mistletoe is often associated with peace or romance during the holiday season, when in fact, this holiday symbol is actually a harmful parasite of trees.

Invasive Mistletoe

Mistletoe derives its nutrients and moisture from the tree it infects.  Over time, it can weaken areas in large branches resulting in limb failure.  In severe cases, mistletoe can cause a tree to die; this is especially true during periods of drought.

Winter is a great time to address mistletoe in your trees as it is more visible as trees lose their foliage.   North Texans have several susceptible tree species growing in our landscapes.  Cedar Elm, a highly valued tree, is the most commonly infected. Other species include American Elm, Hackberry, Mulberry, Ash, and Bois d’Arc.  All of these species lose their leaves in the winter, revealing the unsightly, evergreen mistletoe.

Winter is also when mistletoe berries mature and spread throughout the tree canopy.  Birds love snacking on the mature berries.  Our feathered friends transport the parasite’s seed to other susceptible tree species in their droppings which creates new infection sites.

To control mistletoe, we remove entire branches or twigs with the parasite.  When large limbs or limbs critical to the structure of the tree are infected we remove the mistletoe only, not the limb.  However, mistletoe regrowth will occur throughout the year.  Mistletoe removal, on average, is necessary about every 2 – 3 years. This addresses the regrowth of old infections, as well as new infections that continually occur on susceptible species.

We can remove mistletoe at anytime of the year.  However, it is much more visible and in most cases more easily removed during winter.  Call one of our qualified ISA Certified Arborists today to help your trees with mistletoe management.

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