Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana "Bradford"

F

Freshy

Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana \"Bradford\"

I work for a city in the Island maintenance department. We run across Bradford pairs with massive amounts of mistletoe and we are very limited to what we can (hand chainsaws and extend able pole saws) What do you guys think is the best way to deal with massive infestations of mistletoe

Is there any way to save the trees do i just cut it out or cut out what i can top the tree (what i can't reach) and hope for the best

Btw. Ive been reading these forums for 2 months now and am in awe of your guys and gals knowledge
(please forgive spelling and punctuation)

We also run into years of neglect in overgrown Bradfords that look like giant tunnels over the streets cut square by trucks ill have to get pictures to you guys but im sure you run into this in city's all the time.
 
Re: Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana \"Bradford\"

with bradfords, mistletoe could almost be considered a plus. why prune it? the tree is not long lived anyway--tend to its structure before worrying about the parasite.

if you do tree care, you should be able to reach the tops, somehow.
 
Re: Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana \"Bradford\"

I'm currently doing a large resort compound where we decided to keep the large population of mature voluntary hackberry trees that are completely infected and mutated by mistletoe. The canopies are half leaves, half fruiting bodies of this parasite. When we trim, the heartwood is completely compressed and mutated and in this current drought - the far reaches of these trees are in wilting decline while the mistletoe is robbing the little moisture there is available.

Having options for systemic treatment, we're instead shaving-off these fruiting bodies, imparing the parasite and watching the limbs slowly regain some vigor. Climbing to hand-pick (or "rub off" the mistletoe), pole sawing the lower reaches, it's very easy to clear these trees. The infections are so massive I had my doughts we'd effect any response but one day spent flooding the root zones with basic NPK low-dose and plenty of moisture, these trees are coming back - I suspect we'll be there again nest year doing the same thing - but mature trees are valuable in this case. The costs calculated half the amount chemical intervention would've cost and we have a long-term contract now, careful to manage the more severly infect limbs posing any hazard.
 
Re: Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana \"Bradford\"

I hope you do post pictures as living in Montana I haven't seen anything like this with Bradford pears (we are out of their hardiness zone). Where are you located?

As Guy said, I would worry about structuring first (safety trimming for road clearance, etc.). I would think with Bradford pears which are notorius for limb breakage that overloading structurally is your first concern. And it could be an exercise in futility to try to contain this parasite on a short-lived tree (as most controls seem to be only moderately successful at best). This parasite produces nutrients from its own photosynthesis so strangulation of the host plant is not necessarily an issue; safety is.

Do you have a replacement strategy in place? As these trees tend to self-destruct as they get mature, it would certainly seem to be a good idea to start one before you are left with barren streets.

Sylvia
 
Re: Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana \"Bradford\"

I work for the city Of Fresno in California

they may be short lived and they have a tendency to just die for no outward reason but by the time we get around to removing them they are bug ridden

but yea the weight of the trees is a common problem just today we saw one split itself in half (very cool looking btw)

but i run into many of these trees around 40 years old the only problem they have is they have had there canopy neglected so long that they just get tunneled into by trucks and that seems to be the only pruning they get
 
Re: Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana \"Bradford\"

[ QUOTE ]

Having options for systemic treatment, we're instead shaving-off these fruiting bodies, imparing the parasite and watching the limbs slowly regain some vigor... I suspect we'll be there again nest year doing the same thing

[/ QUOTE ]try spraying the scraped areas with pruning paint--we're getting good suppression that way.
 
Re: Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana \"Bradford\"

[ QUOTE ]
Good idea Guy, I'll compare the regrowth next next year.

[/ QUOTE ]Great, then you will be a researcher, and apply for a grant, and...

santa.gif
 
Re: Mistletoe and Pyrus calleryana \"Bradford\"

Been there done that - no.

"Free money" comes with rules and rules dictate results and results from rules aren't the kind of conclusions that I generally seek and they're not the answers to the real questions we should ask because the answers that came from the money only benefit the people who sent you the check in the first place, more or less.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom