Should You Remove Mistletoe from Trees in Your North Phoenix Yard?

That holiday sprig of mistletoe above your doorway during the holidays has a less cheerful relative growing in North Phoenix trees.

While the store-bought holiday decoration is harmless, the wild version attacks your landscape, leading to failing trees that need complete removal. If you have trees on your property – especially pine, mesquite, or palo verde trees – knowing how mistletoe affects trees and how to remove it could help you save them before problems get worse.

Key Takeaways

• Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that steals water and nutrients from trees. Arizona has two types: true mistletoe (affects desert trees) and dwarf mistletoe (affects conifers at higher elevations).
• Winter is the best time to spot mistletoe, when you can see round, green clusters in bare branches.
• Year-round signs of mistletoe include swollen branches, yellow leaves, and dying branch tips.
• While mistletoe rarely kills trees directly, it can weaken them and make them vulnerable to other problems.
• Several control options exist, from simple removal of mistletoe growth to complete tree removal.

What Is Mistletoe?

Unlike some vines and plants that grow harmlessly on trees, mistletoe is a parasite that burrows into tree branches to steal water and nutrients, harming its host. Here in North Phoenix, we see two different types, each type affecting trees in different ways.

True Mistletoe

Mistletoe is common in our desert landscape, often found in thick, round clusters of green leaves growing directly from tree branches. It thrives on mesquite, palo verde, and acacia trees—the very shade trees that many of us rely on.

Although mistletoe remains green year-round, it’s most noticeable in winter when trees shed their leaves. Each cluster can grow several feet wide, with woody stems that penetrate deep into the tree’s tissue.

Since mistletoe can’t produce its own food, it relies on its host tree for water and nutrients, which weakens and harms the tree over time.

Arizona is home to seven species of true mistletoe. In addition to mesquite, palo verde, and acacia, you’ll often find it on ash, oaks, cottonwood, willow, junipers, Arizona cypress, and hackberry trees. Less frequently, it appears on box elder, sycamore, or locust trees.

Dwarf Mistletoe

Don’t let its small size fool you – dwarf mistletoe often does more damage than its bigger cousin. It only grows on conifers, mainly pines and junipers, and shows up most often at higher elevations where these trees naturally grow – which is good news for those of us down in the valley here in North Phoenix.

Its small shoots might look like regular pine needles if you don’t know what to look for, but it can spread through entire branches before you notice it. This leads to twisted growth patterns and can kill parts of your tree over time.

If left alone long enough, dwarf mistletoe can kill a tree directly. More often, though, it weakens the tree so much that diseases and pests move in, which can also kill the tree.

How Mistletoe Spreads

Both types spread differently but each are efficient at colonizing new areas.

True mistletoe flowers and makes berries in winter, which many birds depend on for food. The berries have a sticky coating that helps them pass through birds and stick to tree branches where birds rest. Once there, the seeds sprout and the mistletoe grows into the host tree. Because of this, if you have mistletoe in your trees, it is likely birds will spread it to nearby trees over time.

Dwarf mistletoe takes a more aggressive approach – it actually shoots its seeds up to 50 feet through the air. This means entire groups of pine trees can get infected from just one source, making it important to spot it early, especially in areas with lots of pine trees close together.

Signs Your Trees May Have Mistletoe

Identifying mistletoe early is key to protecting your North Phoenix trees from long-term damage. While it’s easiest to spot during the winter months, there are several warning signs you can look for year-round. Here’s how to spot mistletoe at different times of the year and what to watch for to prevent a serious infestation.

Winter Identification

Winter is the best time to spot mistletoe problems in North Phoenix trees. When trees like mesquite and palo verde lose their leaves, you’ll see dense, round green growths along the branches – they often look like someone hung large green ornaments in your tree.

If you see these green clusters when the rest of the tree is bare, it’s probably true mistletoe. For pine trees, winter checks matter too – look for unusual swelling on branches or small shoots that don’t match the normal pine growth pattern.

Year-Round Warning Signs

Even when your trees have all their leaves, mistletoe leaves clues you shouldn’t ignore. Watch for:

• Branches that look thicker or swollen in specific spots
• Parts of the tree that aren’t growing as well as others
• Dead or dying branches, especially when they’re next to healthy growth
• Thick clusters of growth that don’t match how your tree normally grows
• Yellow or thin leaves on otherwise healthy branches
• Multiple branches dying back from their tips
• Twisted or distorted growth, especially in pine trees

If you have pine trees, pay extra attention to branches that show unusual branching patterns, like those that resemble a witch’s broom. These dense, twisted clusters of small branches often mean dwarf mistletoe has been growing for months or even years.

Finding mistletoe early makes a big difference in both treatment success and cost. Many North Phoenix homeowners don’t notice they have a problem until several trees are affected or major damage has occurred – and by then, fixing the problem gets more complicated.

Should You Remove Mistletoe?

Finding mistletoe in your North Phoenix trees doesn’t always mean you need to take action right away. Your decision depends on several things: what type of mistletoe it is, how bad the infection is, and your specific situation as a property owner.

Reasons to Remove or Control Mistletoe

• Removing mistletoe can help prevent it from spreading to other valuable trees, which your neighbors may appreciate.
• Protecting the property value and curb appeal of mature desert trees is important, as serious infestations can eventually impact the tree’s appearance.
• Severe mistletoe infections can significantly affect tree health, especially in older mesquite and palo verde trees.
• Mistletoe can stress trees, making them more susceptible to pests and diseases.
• If you rely on trees to shade your home or yard in the summer, removing mistletoe can help preserve the tree and ensure you have shade for many more years.

Potential Benefits of True Mistletoe

Some North Phoenix property owners opt to leave minor mistletoe infections in native desert trees, particularly when it’s true mistletoe. They argue that mistletoe is a natural part of our desert landscape and not necessarily a problem plant. These benefits include:

• It’s a native species and natural part of our desert ecosystem
• Many birds rely on it for winter food
• It attracts beautiful birds like gila woodpeckers and cactus wrens
• Pruning large branches with true mistletoe might hurt the tree more than the mistletoe itself
• Trees with small amounts of mistletoe can still live long, healthy lives, especially with regular care and supplemental watering

Things to Consider

Before deciding how to handle mistletoe in your trees, there are several important factors to consider, such as:

• How bad is the infection?
• How much do you value the affected trees?
• How old are your trees?

Getting advice from an ISA-Certified Arborist in your area can help you make the best choice for both your trees and the local ecosystem. At Titan Tree Care, we only suggest removing trees or heavy pruning when it’s really needed. Often, there are gentler ways to handle the problem.

How to Control Mistletoe in North Phoenix Trees

Managing mistletoe in your North Phoenix trees requires a variety of approaches depending on the severity of the infestation and the size of your trees. Here’s a breakdown of the most common methods for controlling mistletoe.

Remove Mistletoe Selectively

For many North Phoenix homeowners, just removing the mistletoe growth while keeping the branch works best. The roots under the bark will make it grow back, but removing the plant every 6 months or so helps keep your tree healthy by reducing how much water and nutrients the mistletoe takes.

This works especially well for large shade trees where you don’t want to cut off major branches. If your trees are small, you might be able to knock off the mistletoe yourself using a broomstick since it breaks off pretty easily.

Use Chemical Treatment

There are sprays and other products that can help control mistletoe, but like physical removal, the plant will grow back eventually. These treatments work well for mistletoe that’s hard to reach or when climbing the tree isn’t practical. You’ll need to repeat treatments regularly to keep the mistletoe under control.

We always recommend having professionals handle chemical treatment as they can ensure proper application, minimize any potential harm to your trees, and manage the treatments safely and effectively.

Prune Affected Branches

For younger trees with small infections, pruning affected branches can sometimes get rid of the mistletoe completely. This can also work on bigger trees if you catch the infection early.

Cut at least one foot below where the mistletoe grows, down to where the branch meets another branch or the trunk. However, this may not be ideal for mature desert trees – removing large branches from older mesquite or palo verde trees can drastically alter their shape and reduce summer shade. It’s best to consult a Certified Arborist before pruning to ensure the health of your trees.

Consider Complete Tree Removal

Sometimes, especially with dwarf mistletoe in pines or when true mistletoe has taken over a tree completely, removing the whole tree might be your only option. While this seems extreme, it often helps protect other valuable trees nearby.

This matters most in neighborhoods with lots of mature trees, as removing one heavily infected tree can save many others around it.

FAQs About Mistletoe in the North Phoenix Area

Can I burn mistletoe off my tree?

Never try to burn mistletoe off your tree. This dangerous practice can badly damage your tree and create fire hazards, especially in our dry desert climate.

If I remove infected trees, how long should I wait before planting new ones?

For dwarf mistletoe in pines, wait 5-10 years before planting trees that can get infected. For true mistletoe, you can plant new trees right away, but try planting species that are resistant to mistletoe.

Does mistletoe always start at the top of the tree?

No. While birds often leave seeds on upper branches, mistletoe can grow anywhere on the tree. Check all your branches regularly, especially in winter, to catch problems early.

Will deep watering or fertilizing help my tree fight off mistletoe?

While proper tree care keeps trees healthier overall, no amount of water or fertilizer will get rid of mistletoe once it’s established. However, healthy trees can handle small infections better since they’ll still get enough water and nutrients even while mistletoe competes for resources.

Protect Your Trees from Mistletoe Damage with Help from Titan Tree

Managing mistletoe in North Phoenix trees takes careful planning based on how bad the infection is and how healthy your tree is overall. Taking care of small problems now prevents expensive headaches later that could affect your whole landscape.

Not sure about the mistletoe in your trees? Our ISA Certified Arborists at Titan Tree Care offer free tree inspections to help you make smart choices about your landscape’s health. Call us at 623-444-8448 or use our online form to request an inspection today.