Does Spanish Moss Kill Trees?
General information. This page summarizes University of Georgia and University of Florida Extension guidance cited below. It isn't a diagnosis of your tree. Coastal Tree Guide is a free referral service, not a tree contractor or arborist.
Short answer: no. Spanish moss isn't a parasite. It hangs on the tree for support, makes its own food, and takes its water and nutrients from the air, not from the tree.1,2 It tends to look thickest on trees that are already struggling, because a thinning canopy lets in the sunlight the moss needs, so the moss is usually a sign of another problem rather than the cause.1,2 On a healthy live oak you don't need to remove it.3 Very heavy growth can shade leaves, and it can hide defects on a tree that's already declining, so if a mossy tree also has dead limbs or thin leaves, have the tree itself looked at.2
What Spanish moss actually is
Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) isn't a true moss. It's a bromeliad, related to pineapples, and an epiphyte or "air plant."2 UGA Extension describes long, slender stems that wrap around branches, with tiny scale-like cups that catch water and nutrients from the air so the plant can photosynthesize on its own.1 It grows on live oaks and cypress most often, but also on crape myrtles, pines, sweetgums, fences and utility poles.3
Why it seems to be on dying trees
Spanish moss needs light. UGA Extension notes it shows up on trees in decline or with openings in the canopy,1 and UF/IFAS says that when a sick or dead tree is covered in moss, the real culprit is likely something else, such as soil compaction, changed drainage or disease.2 In Savannah that's worth keeping in mind after construction near a tree, a new driveway or patio over the roots, or grading that changed how water drains.
When moss can be a real problem
- Heavy growth on a weak tree. Thick moss can shade lower leaves, cut photosynthesis, and may speed the decline of a tree that's already failing.1,2
- Hidden defects. Dense moss can conceal structural problems a person would otherwise notice.2
- Branch breakage. Sources differ a little here. UF/IFAS says moss adds an insignificant amount of weight and is almost never the reason a branch breaks; the branch was probably weak or damaged already.2 Other UF/IFAS guidance says lots of moss can contribute to broken branches.3 Either way, a limb that fails under moss deserves a closer look.
- Pecans. A UGA tree biology professor, quoted by Ask Extension, says there's usually no reason to remove Spanish moss from live oaks, but in coastal areas it can get thick enough in pecan trees to add to ice and wind damage.4
Does Spanish moss have chiggers?
Mostly not while it's in the tree. UF/IFAS says chiggers (redbugs) live mainly in low, damp, heavily vegetated areas. Moss that has fallen to the ground can pick them up, but moss hanging in trees rarely harbors them.2 Wear gloves and long sleeves if you're gathering fallen moss. Many birds, bats and other animals also use the moss for cover.2
Should you remove it?
| Situation | What Extension guidance suggests |
|---|---|
| Healthy tree, normal moss | Leave it. It doesn't need to be removed, and it will likely grow back if you do.3 |
| Heavy moss and you'd like less of it | Hand removal. On small trees that can be done from a ladder or with a pole; large trees usually need a lift.2 UGA Extension adds that improving the tree's vigor with proper watering and fertility thickens the canopy and shades the moss out.1 |
| Moss plus dead limbs, thin leaves, cracks or decay | Have the tree assessed. UF/IFAS recommends consulting an ISA Certified Arborist before removing moss, since they can judge whether removal is justified.2,3 See our hazard tree assessment guide. |
| Moss on a power or service line | Don't pull it off yourself. Georgia Power's safety guidance is not to try to remove tree limbs or anything else from a line.5 Call Georgia Power at 1-888-891-0938. |
What about spraying it?
UF/IFAS says chemical control is possible with copper-based products labeled for Spanish or ball moss, but it isn't generally necessary. There's evidence copper products can damage tender new growth on oaks, the dead moss looks worse than live moss and still has to be pulled down, and spray from a big tree can drift onto a neighbor's plants.2 If you do use a product, follow its label exactly.
Savannah street trees: ask the City first
If the oak stands on City of Savannah right-of-way, often the strip between the sidewalk and the street, it belongs to the City, and the City's ordinance doesn't allow anyone to trim, prune or remove trees on public property without written City approval.6 We didn't find a City rule that mentions moss specifically (unverified), but removing it from a big oak means working in the canopy, so request help from Urban Forestry through 311 instead of hiring someone to work on a City tree.7 Elsewhere, see our guide to whether live oaks are protected.
Other things growing on your tree
- Lichens (the flat gray-green or crusty patches on bark) are harmless. Like moss, they're often a sign of a declining canopy, never the cause.1
- Mistletoe is different: it's a parasite that grows into the branch. Healthy trees tolerate a little, but heavy infestations can weaken or kill a stressed tree. UGA Extension suggests pruning infected branches about one foot below the point of attachment.1
Not sure what you're looking at? The UGA Extension Chatham County office at 17 Minus Ave in Garden City, (912) 652-7981, gives local horticulture guidance.8
Want a mossy tree checked or cleaned up? Coastal Tree Guide is a free referral service, not a tree contractor and not a government agency. Tell us what you need and we'll pass your request along to an independent local tree company serving your area, when one is available. Responses aren't guaranteed. Phone: (843) 608-8793
See also: live oak pruning · tree trimming and pruning · hazard tree assessment · all homeowner questions
Frequently asked questions
Does Spanish moss kill trees?
No. Spanish moss is an epiphyte, not a parasite. It uses the tree only for support and makes its own food, taking water and nutrients from the air. It's often thickest on trees that are already declining because a thinner canopy lets in more light.1,2
Should I remove Spanish moss from my live oak?
Usually not. On a healthy tree it doesn't need to be removed, and it tends to grow back.3 If growth is very heavy or the tree shows decline, UF/IFAS recommends having an ISA Certified Arborist assess the tree before removing moss.2
Does Spanish moss have chiggers?
Rarely while it hangs in the tree. UF/IFAS says moss that has fallen to the ground may contain chiggers, but moss hanging in trees rarely harbors them.2
Can Spanish moss break branches?
It's rarely the real cause. UF/IFAS says moss adds an insignificant amount of weight and the branch was likely already weak or damaged, though heavy moss on a weak limb is worth having checked.2,3
How do you get rid of Spanish moss?
Hand removal is the usual method: a ladder or pole for small trees and a lift for large ones. Copper-based products labeled for moss exist, but UF/IFAS notes they may damage tender oak growth and the dead moss still has to be removed.2
Can I remove moss from the oak in front of my house in Savannah?
If the tree is on City of Savannah right-of-way, it's a City tree, and the City doesn't allow trimming or pruning of public trees without written approval. Request help through 311 rather than working on it yourself.6,7
Sources
- UGA Extension Bulletin 999, The Truth about Slime Molds, Spanish Moss, Lichens, and Mistletoe (published with full review June 22, 2012). fieldreport.caes.uga.edu
- UF/IFAS Extension EDIS ENH1224/EP485, Spanish Moss, Ball Moss, and Lichens: Harmless Epiphytes. ask.ifas.ufl.edu
- UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Spanish Moss. gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu
- Ask Extension, Spanish moss (expert response quoting Dr. Kim D. Coder, UGA Warnell School of Forestry). ask.extension.org
- Georgia Power, Power line safety. www.georgiapower.com
- City of Savannah, Landscape and Tree Protection Ordinance (approved March 16, 2017, PDF). www.savannahga.gov
- City of Savannah, Urban Forestry (311 and 24-hour dispatch for right-of-way trees). savannahga.gov
- UGA Extension Chatham County office (17 Minus Ave, Garden City; 912-652-7981). extension.uga.edu