Moss growth on a tree trunk can put a strain on the tree if your tree is old or weakened. Not to mention, moss on trees can be unattractive. Moss thrives in moist, shaded environments, so if your tree trunks are growing moss and you want to get rid of it for good, the key to slowing the moss growth is exposing them to more sunlight and airflow. Often, this is easier said than done. Trees have their own built-in shade source – branches – and if you live in an area that gets plenty of rain, keeping the trunk dry can be tough. However, there are three things you can do to reduce moisture and shade, thus preventing or slowing moss growth on your trees.
1. Pruning the Tree
Consider having your tree pruned by a tree care professional. A person with training knows which branches can be removed without harming the tree, and thus they are able to safely remove a greater portion of the tree's branches. Thinning out the tree's branches will allow more air and sunlight to reach the trunk.
Depending on the type of tree you have, removing the lower branches may also be a good idea since doing so exposes the trunk directly to more air and sunlight. This works particularly well with pines that are getting mossy.
2. Thinning Your Tree Grove
If you have a grove of trees, you'll often notice that the ones closest to the center develop the most moss because their trunks are the most shaded. Removing some of the smaller trees from the outer portions of the grove may expose these trees to more light and air. Felling trees in a thick grove is a tough task, as you need to be able to do so without causing damage to other nearby trees or suffering an injury yourself. Thus, it is usually best to hire an expert to thin a grove.
3. Removing Fences
Often, trees planted along fences will get quite mossy, since the fence blocks the air and sunlight. Removing the fence is a good way to remedy the situation. Of course, if the fence denotes a property line or serves some other purpose, removing it entirely may not be an option. Consider replacing the part of the fence against which the tree is planted with a type of fencing that's "less solid," such as chain-link or post-and-rail fence.
You can remove moss from tree trunks over and over again, but unless you do something to increase airflow and sunlight to the tree, it will keep coming back. Consider whether it's possible for you to employ one of the tactics above – if you're able to do so, your tree trunks should become much less mossy. Contact a tree service like Yarnell Tree Co Inc for more information.
