By WAYNE BECKER AgriLife Extension Agent
Mistletoe is a common evergreen parasitic plant which grows on a number of landscape trees in Mississippi and is often a source of concern to homeowners with infected trees
Trees commonly parasitized by mistletoe in the South include many oaks, pecan, hackberry, Osage orange, and others not mentioned.
Removing mistletoe growth will benefit the host tree. Although mistletoe has green leaves and manufactures part of its own food supply, it does depend on the tree for water and nutrients. Most trees that are otherwise healthy can tolerate a few mistletoe branch infections; however, trees heavily infected over a period of several years often are reduced in vigor, become stunted, and are more susceptible to harsh environmental conditions, which may cause tree death.
Mistletoe is a flowering plant and produces small, whitish berries in late fall and early winter. Seeds are covered by a sticky outer pulp layer. Birds feed on the sticky pulp and discard the seeds which stick to their bills, feet, and other body parts.
In this way the seeds are carried to other trees or other branches of the same tree and deposited, where they stick tightly. After a short time, the mistletoe seeds germinate, and the parasite grows through the bark and into the tree's water-conducting tissues, where root-like structures develop.
These "roots" gradually extend up and down within the branch as the mistletoe grows. In some cases, older, mature mistletoe plants may reach several feet in diameter.
Mistletoe has no chemical control that is consistently effective. The best control is to prune out infected branches as soon as the early infestations become apparent.
Cut off affected limbs about 18" or more above the point of mistletoe attachment. If this isn't possible, remove mistletoe and wrap the infected area with black plastic to suppress resprouting.
Dates to Remember:
Jan 11 – Marketing Club Meeting; 7:00 PM – Gainesville Farm Bureau
Building
Jan 26 – Foaling Seminar; Whitesboro – Details TBA
