Mistletoe in Our Desert Trees

How to recognize and control a parasitic takeover

Most of us associate Old World mistletoe with the Christmas tradition , but contrary to the feeling of Yule sunniness it convey us , mistletoe is actually a parasite that steal nutrient and piddle from its host plant . Over time it can dampen the host ’s strength and livelihood . Mistletoe can raise on over 100 specie of tree across the globe , although we see it on only about a dozen diversity here in the Southwest .

In the desert there are certain trees that are more susceptible to mistletoe plague . Tree such as mesquite ( Prosopisspp . , Zones 6–11 ) , palo verde ( Parkinsoniaspp . , Zones 8–11 ) , desert ironwood ( Olneya tesota , Zones 9–11 ) , pine tree ( Pinusspp . , Zones 2–9 ) , and juniper bush ( Junipernusspp . , Zones 4–9 ) are all target . Walking through Sabino Canyon within Coronado National Forest last calendar week , we could see just how mistletoe affects certain specie of trees . grounds suggests that the primary campaign for desert mistletoe growing on sure tree diagram and not others has to do with the hormone levels within the legion tree . According to the blogIn Defense of Plants , research worker have found that when they take seed from mistletoe growing on an acacia ( Acaciaspp . , Zones 6–11 ) and attempt to transfer them to a palo verde , they experienced dramatically less germination than when transplant the seeds to another acacia tree diagram .

You might be question how mistletoe spreads . We can thank our little feathered champion for that . Mistletoe make small berries of various colors . Bronx cheer bang eating these vivacious berries ; thanks to droppings and Charles Edward Berry remnants provide on birds after feasting , this parasite can disseminate from one tree to the next .

If you have mistletoe on your place , the first way to control the counterpane is to cut it out . If you overtake it early , this technique is much light than the alternatives , although you ’ll have to be vigilant since the buds can often hide within the branches . If you have a large while of mistletoe , you may require to cut the ramification back , keeping the track as minimal as possible so as not to disrupt the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Although cutting a branch is n’t always ideal , it can be a great welfare to your tree ’s longevity . Our mesquites had several very large mistletoe plant , which we had to cut out . They were very convoluted in there after years of disuse ( from the late owner , we promise ! ) , but I can account that the trees are much happier now .

Although you may not be inclined to do any necking under your Viscum album , the headstone is to keep it under control . Keep a close watch on the plants that you know are probable targets , and if you start to see mistletoe down up , do n’t be afraid to do a bit of trimming to ensure your tree are happy for years to number .

Sheila Schultz and Laurel Startzel are a mother - girl duo who establish Denver Dirty Girls Container Gardening while subsist in Denver , Colorado and have continued their occupation since moving to Tucson , Arizona .

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