Bill,
On the bark of my Crepe Myrtles, I noticed grayish growth. I can peel this growth off fairly easily. What is this growth and is it hurting my tree?
It sounds like you have lichens. Lichens are grayish-green organisms that are a cross between fungi and algae. They make their own food and collect their own water and minerals, so technically they do not harm the plant or tree on which they are growing.
Since lichens manufacture their own food through photosynthesis, a healthy actively growing plant or tree is the best defense against lichens. If the tree or shrub has a thick canopy, the lichens will not survive since they need sunlight to manufacture their food. Culturally, the plant must be planted in an area that provides the conditions that the plant can thrive, so it produces a dense canopy that will shade out the lichens. Proper fertilization based on soil tests and proper pruning will help to keep the canopy thick.
Although lichens do not hurt the plant, it could be a sign that the plant is in a very moist area or in an area that is not getting good air movement. A shady area for Crepe Myrtles will also cause the lichens to flourish.
Lichens thrive in these conditions which are not very favorable for plant growth. With our on-again, off-again rain, it is hard to control these moist conditions. If you have an irrigation system, be sure you are not over-watering, as this contributes to the problem. Irrigation systems are great; however, if over used can cause great problems in the landscape. Large patch fungus and lichens could be a couple of examples of over-watering issues.
The best control for lichens is cultural controls. Try to minimize the moisture in the soil and air around the plants and trees. Pruning to increase air movement will help dry the soil. Excessive mulch whether fallen leaves, pine straw or wood mulch will keep moisture high in this area and should be limited to 2-3 inches in depth.
Lichens, although a bit unsightly, do not harm the plant, so if you can’t get the moisture out of the area because of large trees, it may be something you just have to live with.
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that lives in our trees. It manufactures its own food; however, it has root-like growth that penetrates the bark and collects minerals and water from the host tree. If left to grow, it will eventually kill the host tree. It has seeds that birds eat and spread. These seeds also get under the soft bark and germinate spreading the parasitic plant.
Always read, understand and follow product label. The product label is a Federal Law.
