Mistletoe

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Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that grows on the branches of trees and shrubs. While often associated with holiday traditions, mistletoe can be a significant tree health concern in Texas. It attaches itself to a host tree and extracts water and nutrients through specialized structures called haustoria, which penetrate the tree's branches.

Although a small amount of mistletoe is usually not harmful, heavy infestations can weaken trees, reduce growth, and increase susceptibility to drought, insects, and disease.

• Live Oak
• Cedar Elm
• Hackberry
• Pecan
• Mesquite
• Cottonwood
• Sycamore
• Ash
• Various ornamental shade trees

Mistletoe appears as:

• Round, ball-shaped clumps in the canopy
• Dense green foliage growing on branches
• Evergreen leaves that remain visible during winter
• Clusters ranging from a few inches to several feet in diameter

Mistletoe is often easiest to spot after deciduous trees lose their leaves.

• Multiple mistletoe clumps throughout the canopy
• Reduced tree vigor
• Thinning foliage
• Slower growth
• Branch dieback
• Increased drought stress
• Declining overall health

Severely infested trees may experience reduced longevity and increased risk of branch failure.

Mistletoe spreads primarily through birds.

The berries produced by mistletoe are eaten by birds, which then deposit the sticky seeds onto nearby branches. Once attached, the seeds germinate and begin growing into the host tree.

Mistletoe competes with the tree for:

• Water
• Nutrients
• Energy reserves

Heavy infestations can:

• Reduce photosynthesis
• Increase stress during drought
• Weaken branch structure
• Make trees more susceptible to pests and diseases
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Yes. Management options include:

• Pruning infected branches
• Removing visible mistletoe growth
• Monitoring for regrowth
• Improving overall tree health
• Reducing stress through proper watering and mulching

Simply cutting off the visible portion may not eliminate the entire parasite if the internal structures remain within the branch.

• Inspect trees regularly
• Remove new infestations early
• Maintain proper tree health
• Prune affected branches when practical
• Schedule routine tree inspections
• Address tree stress promptly

Professional evaluation may be beneficial when:

• Large portions of the canopy are affected
• Multiple mistletoe clumps are present
• Branch dieback is occurring
• The tree appears stressed or declining
• Valuable shade trees are involved

Mistletoe is much easier to manage when infestations are small. Early removal can help reduce stress on the tree and prevent the parasite from spreading throughout the canopy.

At CBM Tree Service, tree health assessments can help identify mistletoe infestations, evaluate their impact on tree health, and provide recommendations to help maintain healthy, attractive trees throughout the Texas Hill Country and Highland Lakes region. 

Bacterial Leaf Scorch (BLS) is a chronic tree disease caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. The disease infects a tree's water-conducting tissues (xylem), restricting the movement of water from the roots to the leaves. As a result, affected trees often display symptoms similar to drought stress, even when adequate moisture is available.

Bacterial Leaf Scorch is common throughout Texas and can affect both urban and rural landscapes. The disease progresses slowly over several years, gradually weakening the tree and reducing its overall health and appearance.

• Live Oak
• Red Oak
• Pin Oak
• Shumard Oak
• Elm
• Sycamore
• Maple
• Mulberry
• Sweetgum

Common symptoms include:

• Browning or scorching along leaf edges
• Yellow or reddish bands between healthy and dead leaf tissue
• Premature leaf drop
• Sparse or thinning canopy
• Branch dieback
• Reduced leaf size
• Progressive decline year after year

Symptoms often begin on individual branches before spreading throughout the canopy over time.

The bacteria are spread by sap-feeding insects such as:

• Leafhoppers
• Sharpshooters
• Spittlebugs

These insects carry the bacteria from infected trees to healthy trees while feeding.

There is currently no cure for Bacterial Leaf Scorch. However, proper tree care may help slow disease progression and improve overall tree health.

Management options may include:

• Tree health assessments
• Deep root fertilization
• Proper watering practices
• Mulching around the root zone
• Pruning dead or hazardous branches
• Tree injections in certain situations
• Monitoring tree condition over time

As the disease advances, trees may experience significant canopy loss, structural decline, and branch failure. Removal may become necessary when:

• Large portions of the canopy have died
• The tree becomes hazardous
• Significant branch failure occurs
• Overall decline affects tree stability

• Maintain proper tree health and vigor
• Avoid unnecessary root damage
• Water during extended drought periods
• Schedule regular tree inspections
• Address insect issues when appropriate
• Remove severely infected trees when necessary

Because Bacterial Leaf Scorch often resembles drought stress or nutrient deficiencies, professional evaluation is important. Early identification can help property owners make informed decisions about treatment, monitoring, and long-term tree management.

At CBM Tree Service, tree health assessments can help identify symptoms of Bacterial Leaf Scorch and other tree health concerns, allowing property owners to take proactive steps to protect valuable trees and maintain a safe, healthy landscape. 

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on the sap of trees, shrubs, flowers, and garden plants. They are among the most common plant pests found throughout Texas and can reproduce rapidly under favorable conditions.

While a few aphids rarely cause serious harm, large infestations can weaken plants, distort new growth, and contribute to other problems such as Sooty Mold.

• Live Oak
• Pecan
• Cedar Elm
• Crape Myrtle
• Ash
• Maple
• Hackberry
• Fruit Trees
• Rose Bushes
• Various ornamental plants

Aphids are typically:

• 1/16 to 1/8 inch long
• Green, yellow, black, brown, red, or gray
• Pear-shaped
• Soft-bodied
• Found in clusters on leaves and stems

Some species develop wings and can fly to new host plants.

Common symptoms include:

• Curling or distorted leaves
• Yellowing foliage
• Stunted new growth
• Sticky residue on leaves and surfaces
• Increased ant activity
• Premature leaf drop
• Reduced plant vigor

Heavy infestations can make trees appear unhealthy and stressed.

As aphids feed, they excrete a sugary liquid called honeydew.

Honeydew can:

• Coat leaves and branches
• Attract ants
• Cover vehicles parked beneath trees
• Lead to the development of Sooty Mold

Large aphid populations can:

• Remove plant nutrients
• Reduce photosynthesis
• Weaken young trees
• Distort leaves and shoots
• Increase plant stress during drought
• Contribute to fungal growth such as Sooty Mold

Many beneficial insects help control aphid populations naturally, including:

• Lady beetles (ladybugs)
• Lacewings
• Hoverflies
• Parasitic wasps
• Spiders

These beneficial insects often keep aphid numbers below damaging levels.

Yes. Management options may include:

• Strong water sprays to remove aphids
• Encouraging beneficial insects
• Horticultural oils
• Insecticidal soaps
• Proper tree care and watering
• Monitoring populations before they become severe

• Maintain overall tree health
• Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization
• Inspect new growth regularly
• Encourage beneficial insects
• Address infestations early
• Schedule routine tree inspections

Aphid populations can grow quickly, especially during warm weather. Identifying infestations early can help prevent leaf damage, honeydew buildup, and secondary problems such as Sooty Mold.

At CBM Tree Service, tree health assessments can help identify aphid infestations and other insect-related issues, allowing property owners to maintain healthy, attractive trees throughout Texas.

Ball Moss is a common air plant found throughout Texas, especially in the Hill Country, Central Texas, and along the Gulf Coast. Despite its name, Ball Moss is not actually a moss. It is a member of the bromeliad family and is closely related to Spanish moss.

Ball Moss grows attached to tree branches but is not a parasite. It does not take water or nutrients from the tree. Instead, it absorbs moisture and nutrients from the air through specialized scales on its leaves.

Ball Moss is frequently found growing on:

• Live Oak
• Cedar Elm
• Post Oak
• Pecan
• Mesquite
• Hackberry
• Ash
• Various ornamental shade trees

Ball Moss appears as:

• Gray-green clumps attached to branches
• Round or ball-shaped growths
• Clusters ranging from a few inches to over a foot in diameter
• Small purple or blue flowers during blooming periods

It is often most noticeable during winter when deciduous trees lose their leaves.

In most cases, Ball Moss does not directly harm healthy trees.

However, heavy infestations may:

• Shade small branches
• Increase branch weight
• Reduce sunlight reaching leaves
• Accumulate on already stressed or declining trees

Ball Moss is often more abundant on trees with thin canopies because increased sunlight reaches interior branches.

Ball Moss thrives in:

• Humid environments
• Areas with good air circulation
• Trees with open canopies
• Mature trees with rough bark
• Locations with limited branch disturbance

Its presence is often a sign of environmental conditions rather than the cause of tree decline.

Ball Moss reproduces by seed.

Seeds are spread by:

• Wind
• Birds
• Air currents

The seeds attach to branches and begin growing without rooting in the soil.

Yes, if desired.

Management options include:

• Hand removal
• Pole pruning
• Selective branch pruning
• Improving tree vigor and canopy density
• Routine monitoring

Complete elimination is often difficult because new seeds can continue to arrive from surrounding areas.

• Maintain healthy tree growth
• Water during extended droughts
• Prune properly to encourage vigor
• Monitor trees regularly
• Address stress-related issues promptly

Ball Moss is frequently found on stressed or aging trees, but it is usually a symptom of reduced canopy density rather than the cause. Improving overall tree health often helps reduce conditions that favor heavy Ball Moss growth.

At CBM Tree Service, tree health assessments can help determine whether Ball Moss is simply present or contributing to branch stress, allowing property owners to make informed decisions about tree care and maintenance. 

Pine Wilt is a serious disease that affects susceptible pine trees and is caused by the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus). The microscopic nematode is carried from tree to tree by Pine Sawyer Beetles (also called sawyer beetles or longhorned pine beetles).

Once inside a tree, the nematodes multiply rapidly and interfere with the movement of water through the wood. Infected trees often decline quickly, with symptoms developing over a few weeks to several months.

Pine Wilt primarily affects:

• Scots Pine
• Austrian Pine
• Japanese Black Pine
• Mugo Pine
• Loblolly Pine (occasionally)
• Slash Pine (occasionally)
• Other susceptible pine species

Native southern pines in Texas are generally more resistant than many introduced ornamental pines, but stressed trees may still become infected.

Common symptoms include:

• Needles fading from green to gray-green
• Rapid yellowing, then browning of needles
• Entire branches dying quickly
• Reduced resin production
• Wilted appearance despite adequate soil moisture
• Rapid canopy decline
• Tree death within weeks or months

Unlike many fungal diseases, the needles often remain attached to the branches after turning brown.

The disease spreads primarily through:

• Pine Sawyer Beetles carrying pinewood nematodes
• Beetles feeding on healthy pine shoots
• Beetles emerging from infected dead trees
• Movement of infested firewood or untreated logs

The beetles transmit nematodes while feeding on healthy trees or laying eggs in weakened trees.

Pine Sawyer Beetles do not cause Pine Wilt directly. Instead, they act as vectors, transporting pinewood nematodes from infected trees to healthy ones.

The nematodes enter feeding wounds created by the beetles and begin multiplying inside the tree's water-conducting tissues.

Pine Wilt can:

• Kill susceptible pine trees rapidly
• Spread to nearby pines
• Create hazardous dead trees
• Reduce landscape value
• Increase tree removal costs
• Affect windbreaks and ornamental plantings

Once symptoms become advanced, recovery is extremely unlikely.

Pine Wilt is more likely to occur when:

• Trees are stressed by drought
• Pines are injured by storms or construction
• Beetle populations are high
• Susceptible ornamental pine species are planted
• Dead or infested pine wood remains nearby

There is no cure for trees with advanced Pine Wilt.

Management options include:

• Prompt removal of infected trees
• Proper disposal or chipping of infested wood
• Avoiding storage of untreated pine firewood
• Preventive nematicide treatments for high-value trees before infection (performed by qualified professionals)
• Maintaining tree health through proper watering and mulching

• Keep pine trees healthy during periods of drought.
• Avoid injuring trunks and roots.
• Remove dead or dying pine trees promptly.
• Do not transport untreated pine firewood from affected areas.
• Monitor susceptible pine species during late spring through early fall.
• Inspect trees for sudden needle discoloration and rapid decline.

Pine Wilt progresses quickly, and infected trees often cannot be saved once symptoms become obvious. Early identification and removal of infected trees can help reduce the spread of pinewood nematodes and Pine Sawyer Beetles to nearby healthy pines.

While Pine Wilt is less common in Central Texas than in some Midwestern states, it can occur in ornamental landscapes and should not be overlooked. Regular monitoring of susceptible pine species can help protect valuable trees and reduce the risk of disease spread.