This is the first time I have heard reference to Spanish Moss as a disease or infestation - and I have lived in the deep south for 37 years. Most yankees swoon at the sight of the stuff. But if you want to control it just open up the tree(s) with pruning to more light and air. Misuse of the copper will kill everything and you may need a permit to spray that on 500 trees.

Bobguz

The ration of Copper to sulfate lime is 10 lbs per 100 gallons or 6tsp per gallon. This should only be sprayed during the trees dormant stage because of the the chemicals will kill new tender leaves and growth plus other young plants. The most likely reason for the heavy growth of Spanish Moss on your trees is that they are getting older thus weaker or they have an parasite or disease which is restricting the growth of the tree which in turn would reduce the Spanish Moss

Snipr,

I recommend you call your County Agriculture Agent. They're in the phone book or call your county or state "Information". The ag agent services are usually free and he or she can tell you everything you're going to need to legally solve your problem.

Bobguz

This reminds me of a major cities park officials who came up with the idea that removing all of the dead wood from a large and wonderful city park would make the park prettier. With out doing any research on the ecology of the park, those park officials proceeded to remove all of the dead wood. Soon afterwards area birding enthusiasts and biologists began to miss out on some of the animals which relied on the dead wood as part of their habitat. My point is that without performing the necessary ecological research about your stand of oaks removing such a valuable part of that local habitat might prove detrimental to the natural components you might just come to miss out on. Certainly adding poison to the mix is always the last remedy to consider. On the other hand, harvesting some of your crop and selling it might allow you to pay for the harvesting while thinning out your crop providing your trees with enough light to sprout more leaves. Not to mention prettying up the place a bit?

hi everyone,

two things:

first oak trees normally have a short life compared to other trees. in a mixed forest, the oaks usually start dieing off at 30 years, while the pines and firs go up to 125 years. could just be the natural time for the oaks to start dying.

second: besides the selling of spanish moss as a floral item, which is really true, it is also a medicinal. it is an astringent. so, could be marketed to the herbal industry.

I also have not heard of spanish moss killing oaks. there is actually a symbiotic relationship between them.

Hi, Snipr!

Welcome to CR4!

If you're an engineer, you'll have a great time in this website. If you're not, you'll still have a great time here. So....have a great time here! BTW, your inquiry made page one on Google in the Blogtoplist list in the Spanish Moss category (although it has not received any replies yet). So watch out what you blog in here. Others are watching!

Obviously, I checked out a few sources about your problem. Most of it you probably already know. I awarded BakerJohn a G.A. for his direct answer to your question in blog #7 above. Hope the following information also helps, especially #4 below:

1. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is an epiphyte. An epiphyte is an organism that lives upon a plant, using only the plant for support and protection. Spanish moss does not feed directly on the tree but obtains its water and nutrients from the air and rain. Spanish moss is limited to warm, humid areas of the southern and coastal regions of the state. Each bundle of moss is made up of a mass of long, gray-green filaments, which are its stems and leaves. Since the leaves of Spanish moss require sunlight to produce their own food, it is usually found in trees that are in a state of decline. Heavy infestations of Spanish moss can lead to further tree decline by shading out lower leaves and the weight of large masses of wet Spanish moss can lead to limb breakage.

Prevention and Treatment: Increasing tree vigor through proper watering and fertilization is one way to restrict the growth of Spanish moss. Removal by hand may also be necessary to rid the tree completely.

2....You will find it mainly in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and Florida. I've also been told that it grows in Texas and it probably grows in other states, also. It is very dense in bogs and swamps, and is usually seen along rivers and bayous and in Coastal areas where I live.

It is neither a moss nor a parasite; rather, it is a tropical, epiphytic herb which grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. An epiphyte, or air plant, has no roots. Having through evolution broken all connection from the earth, it is self-sustaining in its manufacture of food and absorption of nutrients from aerial roots. It just uses trees as its substratum on which to grow.

It belongs to the pineapple family, Bromeliaceae. It's also called "Greybeard" (because it looks like an old man's beard), and Tillandsia, and Florida Moss...

• Because it absorbs a lot of water when it rains, heavy clumps of Spanish Moss can cause entire branches of the Live Oak tree to break off.
• Other than pulling it off the tree branches, I don't know of anything that will kill it without damaging the trees.

3. This link is informed data of Spanish moss.
Apparently the moss has been misunderstood for many years.

Clemson University Cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture,
SPANISH MOSS

Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is one of the most misunderstood plants found throughout the Deep South. To native South Carolinians, these gray strands draping from the branches of live oaks and other trees are a natural part of the scenery, while many newcomers fear that it may be killing their trees.

Contrary to popular belief, Spanish moss causes little to no detrimental effect on a host tree

The link below gives information about the Spanish moss.

GARDEN Q&A: Spanish moss won't harm trees
Q: I have a large oak tree that is covered with moss. How can I get rid of it?

A: Spanish moss itself is not harmful to trees and is found in healthy trees throughout the South. It is not a parasite of the host tree. Rather, it is an epiphyte and gets all of its nutrients from air and rain water. Mother Nature's creatures use it for hiding and for nest making.

If the foliage on your tree becomes increasingly covered by moss and is not able to receive adequate sunlight, it may be an indication that the tree is stressed for reasons other than the presence of the moss.

Hand-picking by the homeowner or a professional is the most recommended practice to remove moss. Copper sulphate is sometimes recommended to control moss, but can cause damage to tender growth on the tree and might be harmful to the surrounding landscape if carried by the wind. Use of this product on large trees would be quite cumbersome. Check the label to make sure it can be applied to the tree you want to treat.

AND FINALLY, A DIRECT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION:

4. Spanish Moss Removal Info. Easy Spanish moss removal Guide.

Answer

The following materials are licensed for control of Spanish moss and/or ball moss: TC Tribasic Copper Sulphate, Blue Shield Basic Copper 53, Micro Flo Basic Copper 53, Micro Flo Copper 3 FL. It should be noted that there is evidence that copper-based herbicides and fungicides may cause damage to tender growth on oak trees.

I would spray before the leaves bud out or wait until about mid summer when the leaves are not tender. As with all herbicides, when using these materials read and follow label directions carefully.

Hand removal of Spanish moss is possible and can be done successfully on small trees by standing on a ladder or using a pole. For larger trees, a basket-truck or "cherry-picker" is usually necessary. The procedure is labor intensive and costly. Homeowners would be well advised to consider the ecological benefits of Spanish moss and let the plant grow unless heavy infestation is endangering the health of the tree through reduced light. In such cases, hand removal of the denser festoons coupled with judicious pruning of light-suppressed branches will usually restore the tree to a more attractive and healthier condition.

[Reading the labels on the above products might give you a good idea of the proportions of each ingredient. With 500 trees, you'll probably need to get a licence and hire a spray plane! But one of the above entries warns about damage to surrounding vegetation. So take care!]

Good Luck with your pruning!

Mark

Hello MarkTheHandyman

Could you please not use the "Smiley Central" link etc which shows at the bottom of your Post.

If you don't know yet, that link atr Smiley Central, actually installs Spyware on a Computer.

It's best not to propagate Spyware, as I'm sure you realise now.

Thank you.

Kind Regards....

Hi, Sparkstation!

I think you're correct. I noticed, just today, that the Smiley Central images offer a click potential, which must mean that they have installed at the very least an Adware link through them. I don't know whether it would propogate or not as either Adware or spyware through a blog site like this, but I certainly won't take the chance again that it might.

The I.M. Smiley figure group, on the other hand, have assured me that their entire income stems from shared Google hits (they offer a search engine line), and have no adware or spyware hidden agenda through the use of their figures.

Mark

Mark,

I think we're looking at bromeliads here not Spanish Moss.

Bobguz

Mark,

Taxonomy aside, gardeners and foresters recognize a clear dicotomy between bromeliads that point skyward and erupt in brilliant colors, and, Spanish Moss that dangles, blue green from the tree limb.

I can't understand why you would kill either of these commercially valuable plants. Invite nurserymen to harvest them and make some money.

Bobguz

I'm a former 40 year resident of Massachusetts. Now in Florida for 14 years, I can tell you first hand that Spanish Moss KILLS TREES!!

It begins as a harmless looking bit of grey fluff at the intersection of branches. Moisture from the air and especially a good rain turn the moss a sickly green color as the moss grows and chokes off the portion of the tree it has attached itself to.

In my case, there are 100+ ft tall live oak on the property. Spanish Moss hangs from some of the higher branches and reaches lengths of 30-40 ft.

My method of attack will be to rent a cherry picker bucket truck and pull the moss off the limbs by hand, then steam it, to kill the moss and then sell it as there is much demand for it.

With any luck, I shall reap enough income from the virtual tons of moss to pay for the cherry picker rental.