It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:47 pm

All times are UTC - 6 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Mistletoe
PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2003 11:21 am 
Offline

Joined: Sun Nov 09, 2003 11:12 am
Posts: 1
This is the time of year that mistletoe becomes obvious, and I've heard only bad things about it. I'm a first-time owner of an older home on a lot completely shaded by post oaks - which I consider the property's biggest asset. I also have several hackberries, cedars, elms, etc. that I'm slowly removing, and have noticed mistletoe in some. Should I take any precautions to prevent my oaks from getting mistletoe? Will mistletoe kill my trees, or is it a sign of something already gone wrong?


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2003 12:27 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:18 pm
Posts: 1093
Location: McKinney,TEXAS
Mistletoe is a parasite that has no roots of its own and lives completely off the tree it is attached to. The trees you mention seeing the mistletoe in, like hackberry, are notoriously fast growing, weak trees, which are prime candidates for mistletoe. It will not usually kill trees but it sure sucks some life out of them. Keep the trees as healthy as you can using organic methods. If you want to and have the stomach to climb, you can cut the mistletoe off with a sharp knife.
Birds eat the berries and the sticky seeds attach to the limbs when excreted. Healthy, vigorous growing trees can usually withstand the parasite.
As a side note, if you drastically change the growing conditions of the oak trees they will suffer and be more suseptible to mistletoe invasion, disease, etc. Removing all the native vegatation and planting and watering turf under them is a 100% change from the conditions they grew in. Is it possible they will all survive - sure, and some people live to 90 while smoking every day. You decide if it's worth it.
Tony M


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2003 10:57 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 3:45 pm
Posts: 2884
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
If I'm wrong on this, I'll write back. Right now it is too dark to verify, but I'm pretty sure my mistletoe has disappeared from my elm trees since I started using corn meal as a lawn fertilizer. That's the only change I've made anywhere near that tree.

I had the mistletoe show up after hiring a local tree trimmer. Apparently it was in his ropes?? I don't know if the two are even related. Anyway I had it for a couple years and now it's gone.

_________________
David Hall
Moderator
Dirt Doctor Lawns Forum


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:24 am 
Offline

Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2003 10:19 am
Posts: 85
Location: Franklin,TEXAS
May I ask why you are removing all the trees except the oaks? To echo Tony, the environment should not be a monoculture, be it an exclusive bed of roses or a yard full of only oak trees. That just promotes diseases and pests. To me, organic means not only using non-chemicals, but also promoting a natural environment so that the pest and disease controls that exist in nature can do their work. Sure, you may have a few bad bugs but you also have lots of good bugs, as well as birds, butterflies, lizards, and every other form of wildlife. I urge everyone to read Sara Stein's "Noah's Garden" for an alarming and inspiring look at how we can either benefit or damage the natural world by what we do in our yards.

I'll climb down off my soap box now.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: mistletoe
PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:38 am 
Offline

Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2003 3:12 pm
Posts: 111
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
I had a misletoe problem on some Oaks when I lived in Copperas Cove, Tx ( 60 miles north of Austin). I was told the following "you can cut the mistletoe but, that does not kill it. It will grow back. If you trim it as close to the limb as possible, then wrap that limb about 4" on either side of the wound with thick black plastic, this will kill the mistletoe." I was not sure if it was true but tried it on one of the trees. It appeared to work but I moved soon after and could not really assess this as a control method. If anyone has more/better information on this please comment. :)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 5:07 pm 
Offline
Moderator
Moderator

Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2003 3:45 pm
Posts: 2884
Location: San Antonio,TEXAS
I just checked my former mistletoe spot and it is gone.

_________________
David Hall
Moderator
Dirt Doctor Lawns Forum


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 6 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by eWeblife