Parasitic plant growth on trees includes ball moss, lichens, Spanish moss and mistletoe. They create stress in trees that with proper care can be eliminated. Each of these parasitic plants can be found on trees in our area. Ball moss grows on many of our shade trees and may cause limbs to die. While it does not derive nourishment from living portions of the tree, it smothers developing buds by forming a dense, shading growth on limbs.
Ball moss is an epiphyte that grows on the bark.
It first occurs as small, gray-green tufts that develop within a relatively short time into a dense ball composed of numerous individual plants. The plants form root-like holdfasts which penetrate into the rough bark of the tree and often completely encircle a limb. The seeds are light and are covered with a fluffy material that aids in their movement. The use of the fungicide Kocide will help control ball moss growth. Kocide applied during dry periods will not be as effective.