Those green, ball-shaped clusters showing up in the upper branches of cottonwoods and black locusts around the valley aren't a harmless quirk. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that taps directly into a tree's water and nutrient supply, and once it's established, it doesn't go away on its own.
A tree can carry a light mistletoe load for years without obvious symptoms, which is part of why it gets ignored. But as clusters multiply, the host branches weaken, dieback spreads, and the tree becomes more vulnerable to drought stress and storm damage on top of the parasite itself.
Pruning out infected branches while the load is still light is far more effective, and far less expensive, than waiting until the infestation has spread through the canopy. Timing and technique both matter for keeping the tree structurally sound during removal.
Have you noticed any of those round, bushy clusters in your cottonwoods or locusts this summer?
#TreasureValley
A clear photo of mistletoe clusters visible in a tree canopy, ideally from a local Treasure Valley property, or a crew member pruning out an infected branch.
Canva text suggestion: "Those Green Clusters Aren't Harmless" or "Mistletoe Spreads Quietly Until It Doesn't"