The Not-So-Festive Truth About Mistletoe
Sorry to be the Scrooge, but seeing mistletoe hanging from your trees in Midlothian or Prosper is NOT a good thing.
What Mistletoe Really Is
Mistletoe is a parasite with a root system that penetrates trees and sucks out water and nutrients. Infected areas are certain to die and need to be dealt with by removing infected branches.
How mistletoe damages trees:
- Penetrates bark with parasitic roots (haustoria)
- Steals water and nutrients from host tree
- Weakens branch structure
- Creates dead or dying branches
- Reduces overall tree vigor
- Makes trees vulnerable to other problems
The Long-Term Threat
Mistletoe will not completely kill your trees overnight, but it will kill infected areas and can significantly shorten a tree's lifespan.
Progressive damage from mistletoe:
- Infected branches die back over time
- Tree loses productive foliage
- Photosynthesis capacity reduced
- Stress accumulates year after year
- Tree becomes weaker and more susceptible
- Lifespan shortened by years or decades
- Severe infestations can eventually kill trees
Why Removal Is Critical
Removing infected branches will also keep it from spreading to other parts of the tree or to other trees on your property.
How mistletoe spreads:Mistletoe spreads by seeds which are typically carried by birds or squirrels, so the sooner you get rid of it, the better.
The spread cycle:
- Berries ripen on mistletoe plants
- Birds eat berries and spread seeds through droppings
- Squirrels carry berries to other branches
- Seeds are sticky and adhere to bark
- New mistletoe plants germinate on branches
- Process repeats, spreading throughout property
Why early removal matters:
- Fewer seeds produced = less spread
- Protect uninfected branches
- Protect neighboring trees
- Easier to manage small infestations
- Less tree damage overall
Proper Mistletoe Removal
Effective removal methods:
- Cut infected branches 12-18 inches below visible mistletoe
- Remove entire branch back to main trunk if heavily infested
- Must cut below where roots penetrate (not just visible growth)
- Dispose of removed branches properly (don't leave on property)
- Monitor regularly for new growth
Why you can't just pull it off:
- Roots embedded deep in wood
- Visible plant regrows from roots
- Must remove infected wood entirely
- Pruning too close leaves roots intact
Mistletoe as a Warning Sign
Mistletoe is also a sign of potential health issues in your trees. Mistletoe does not attack healthy, thriving trees.
What mistletoe presence indicates:It could be a number of different things like a lack of water, disease, or insect infestation. Just know that if you have mistletoe, you may need to take a closer look to figure out why.
Common underlying problems:
- Drought stress from inadequate watering
- Poor soil conditions limiting nutrients
- Root damage from construction or compaction
- Disease issues weakening the tree
- Insect infestations stressing the tree
- Age-related decline in older trees
- Environmental stress from urban conditions
Trees Most Susceptible to Mistletoe
Common North Texas hosts:
- Cedar elm
- Hackberry
- Red oak
- Pecan trees
- Ash trees
- Mesquite
- Various other hardwoods
Healthy specimens of these species resist mistletoe better than stressed ones.
Improving Tree Health
Steps to strengthen trees and resist mistletoe:
- Provide adequate water during dry periods
- Mulch properly around root zones
- Avoid soil compaction near trees
- Address any disease or insect issues
- Proper pruning to maintain structure
- Fertilize if soil tests show deficiencies
Professional Tree Care
At Vista Lawn and Pest, we provide comprehensive property care in Midlothian and Prosper, including tree and shrub health assessment. While our primary focus is lawn care with fertilization and weed control, we understand how trees and overall landscape health connect. We can help identify tree health issues and recommend appropriate specialists for tree care needs.
Don't ignore mistletoe—address it before it spreads!
Watch the video below to see mistletoe damage in trees and learn proper removal techniques for North Texas properties.
For comprehensive property care and landscape health services in Midlothian and Prosper, contact Vista Lawn and Pest.
