The Arborist Journal

American Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum)

Tree thief, is the green vegetative growth most obvious in the dormant season on deciduous trees.  In this area of North Texas, it is found most often on Elm species such as Hack berry (Celtis Occendenialis), American Elm (Ulmus americana), and Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia ) and Bois d’Arc (Maclura pomifera). When present on other species, it is generally an indication of poor vigor such as Ash, Maple and Oak.  Conifers are of no issue in North Texas.

Mistletoe parasites the host tree by sending roots (haustorium) into the host tree.  There are many circumstances involved in the successful establishment of mistletoe.  They are as follows:

Birds or mistletoe plants
Host species or weak/unhealthy tree
Favorable growing season (wet)
Favorable growing conditions

All of these circumstances have to be present in some degree in order for the parasite to be successful.  Once mistletoe is established it would be important to begin a strategy to recover the tree from this infection.  Begin an annual treatment to stimulate health and vigor, irrigate properly and remove mistletoe.  Find a board certified master arborist or certified arborist if one is not available to consult with on a plan to recover the tree.

There are few other things a homeowner should be looking at this time of year when considering pruning.  This would be the city ordinance requiring homeowners to maintain clearance of generally 14 feet over street and alley and 7 feet clearance over sidewalks.  Municipalities are now under pressure to generate revenue and this is certainly one of the areas they are looking at.  The other would be large dead limbs or limbs that are contacting any house or structure.

A different kind of pet but nonetheless one that requires love.  A  tree is an organism that requires care much like a dog or a cat, but slightly different.

They are similar in the following ways:

Pets Require Trees Require

Food & Water                          Fertilizing & Irrigating

Grooming                                Pruning

Dipping/Treating                       Spraying/Treathing

Veterinarians                           Arborists

Unfortunately, some people think of trees as ornaments rather than organisms.  They feel that trees require very little care except for an occasional scraping limb on a roof or an inconvenient low limb that you have to duck to get under.  The knee jerk reaction to this would be lopping off the end to solve the problem; however this could in fact harm your tree.  Would you cut off your pet’s paw if their claws got too long?

Trees should be treated no different than your pets. The same goes for example, a Live Oak.  You cannot prune it like a Maple or Red Oak.

When you take care of your trees properly, they will reward you with structure, color, shade and may other attributes that will enhance your landscape for many years to come.

Try hard to remember which tree or shrub looked sick in your yard last year. Because if it was yellow in color (chlorotic), now is the time to get it treated. There is a small window of opportunity to treat for disease and the timing of such treatments is crucial. Sunlight, temperature, and moisture are important ingredients in buds breaking. Species and location also contribute to the cause. Be observant of your landscape and aware of previous issues on trees and shrubs and call a qualified arborist.

Yellow in trees and shrubs is caused by disease (nutrient deficiency), and is not like a diet deficiency in animals. At the time of leaf expansion, key nutrients are required to produce the chlorophyll that gives the leaf green color. Chlorophyll is what produces through photosynthesis, a carbohydrate which in turns feeds the tree and shrub. Primary growth is at the tips where new leaves are produced every spring. The new growth should be at least 8”-12”, which should be enough to support the tree or shrub for the current season. To encourage seasonal growth, you must provide adequate irrigation to every tree and shrub.

There are many techniques and products on the market today that can be used to recover tree and shrub health. All forms of treatment for disease should be aggressive. You should also monitor any progress before extending further treatments to rid the disease from trees and shrubs.

All constrict trees in different ways, by circling, wraping or over growing they consume the tree it is growing on. There is even cases of english ivy (Hedera helix), parasitizing trees. In any case vines , ivy’s and creepers should be kept away from your trees.
There is one technique that works very well when one wants these pests to go away. Get yourself a large piece of cardboard, an oil based herbicide such as woody tissued plant killer and the target itself. The plant has to be actively growing for the spray to be most effective, so spring is the a good time. Place the cardboard between the target and what you don’t want sprayed. Hit the areas where leaves are green and growing well. It will translocate the chemical through the plant into the roots and systemically kill the entire plant. No more pesty briar or poison ivy.