Mistletoe: Not So Romantic…

Mistletoe? The thing that people kiss under during Christmas time right? 

Yes, that is correct but it’s not just any special decoration. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant which is spread through bird waste onto trees and other shrubs. This parasite mainly affects a large number of hard wood trees like ash, birch, elder, pear, and locust, but rarely affects coniferious trees like cedars and cypress. Like any other parasite, mistletoe absorbs the nutrients and water of their host which can lead to the rapid decline of the tree.

When spread to trees, the parasite begins to grow into a green shrub like clusters throughout the limbs and branches of the tree. You can tell if it’s mistletoe as it is many times a different shape and color than the leaves of the trees. The plant is almost always noticeable during the winter time since the hardwood trees lose their leaves due to dormancy, so winter is a great time to get your tree treated!

Don’t wait until your beautiful tree is too far in it’s decline. Call R&D Tree Service TODAY to get your tree’s mistletoe taken care of!