MISTLET PARASITE PLANT - HOW TO FIGHT IT ON FRUIT TREES

White mistletoe is an unusual plant. This evergreen, ball-shaped shrub is a semi-parasitic weed. Lives only on trees (most often - on poplars, maples, oaks, willows, birches). Among fruit crops, he prefers apple trees, pears and plums. Mistletoe blooms in March-April. Yellow-green flowers are small, inconspicuous. The leaves are light green with a golden hue. Mistletoe does not drop them, therefore it is clearly visible on the branches of trees in late autumn, winter and early spring.

Fruits - juicy white berries with sticky pulp, ripen in late autumn and early winter. Fruiting begins, as a rule, in the 5-6th year of life. Berries are toxic to humans, but for birds this is a favorite delicacy. The birds peck at the fruits, and then clean their beaks on the bark of trees, leaving mistletoe seeds on it. They stick to the branches and germinate. The roots of the mistletoe penetrate into the wood, where the “sucker” roots soon develop, through which the parasite pumps out the vital juices of its “victim”.

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At first, the parasitic plant develops slowly - in the first years, only a few millimeters. On the 3-6th year, a trunk and a branch with green leaves are formed in the mistletoe. After that, its growth noticeably accelerates, the bush reaches 60-120 cm in diameter.

In Europe, in order to contain the spread of the green parasite, plantings are treated with herbicides in the spring (before the buds open). In our amateur gardens, white mistletoe is still quite rare, but it must be assumed that its arrival is a matter of time.

The most effective and efficient way to deal with the "freeloader" is to cut down the affected branches and burn them. In the process of cutting the bushes, also grab a part of the tree branch on which the parasite has settled: new bushes will begin to form from the roots hidden in the wood. If you notice mistletoe on the nearest wild trees, get rid of it there too, otherwise it is possible that the birds will again bring you a “gift” to the site.

In addition, in order to prevent this scourge, simple rules should be followed on your homestead property:

do not leave the fruits to winter on apple and pear trees, even at the top, so that the birds, soiled in sticky mistletoe berries, have no reason to fly to your trees;
plant plants with beautiful and useful fruits for birds in the decorative part of the plot - so that they peck, for example, mountain ash, and not eat mistletoe;
in winter hang on the site of the feeder.

HOW TO GET RID OF MISTLE - TIPS FOR FIGHTING IT FROM SPECIALISTS AND GARDENERS

TREES DRY FROM MISTLE

Not far from our site, mistletoe settled on poplars, willows and even pears. The trees began to dry up. How to get rid of the parasite?

Anna Surikova

- White mistletoe is an evergreen shrub of a spherical shape, growing mainly on the branches of deciduous trees or conifers. This plant is a semi-parasite, because, settling on a host tree (without touching the ground), it takes water and minerals from it. Blooms in April, pollinated by insects or wind. The fruits ripen in autumn and are spread by birds over long distances.

The mistletoe seed is surrounded by a sticky substance that helps attach to the tree's bark. Germinating, it gradually penetrates the roots up to the wood. Young bushes reach a diameter of 30 cm. At the age of several decades, the maximum size of the outer branches of the mistletoe is more than 2 m, and the roots are about 3 m. For normal growth and development, it needs a lot of light, as a rule, it settles on the branches of rare park and garden plantations.

Control measures

In summer, mistletoe is difficult to notice in the crown of a tree, but in winter and early spring its green balls are clearly visible - there can be more than a dozen of them on one plant. As a result, de

a korativnolistnoe or fruit tree gradually, starting from the branches, dries up. ” bh. Especially in dry years, when the parasite takes a large amount of water from its host.

Mistletoe must be dealt with in a timely manner: spherical bushes are cut to the ground, preferably together with a branch of the host tree, not allowing fruit to be tied.

BTW

In ancient times, mistletoe sprigs were used medicinally for epilepsy, hysteria, dizziness, and to lower blood pressure.

Reference by topic: Mistletoe plant - a parasite or a healer?