Epiphytes - Mistletoe

There are many organisms that live on trees.  Epiphytes can be beautiful and fun or life sucking and disastrous. Mistletoe is one of those organisms you wish you could avoid. Even though most people want to steal a kiss under the mistletoe, you want them to stay out of your tree.  During the summer they are not so noticeable, because of the foliage, but when the leaves fall, there they are.  These parasitic plants extract water and nutrients from the host tree.  Birds commonly spread mistletoe from tree to tree.  While mistletoe may be harmful to trees, it is used to combat cancer.  If you have it in your tree, it is easily broken off by hand, or cut out with pruning tools.  All you need is an Arborist to climb your tree to get it out of all the high places.