Excellent Boa, confirms same.
Quote:
Since the cause of problems associated with mistletoe appears to be related to an 'unhealthy' environment, a long term solution is to try to create an environment on a property, and in the surrounding landscape, which is more 'ecologically healthy' and hence where 'tree stress' is
reduced. Some steps that can be taken are to fence off remnant native vegetation, restore areas by encouraging the growth of native understorey plants and native groundcovers. Regeneration of surrounding trees will eventually shade some of the mistletoes on isolated trees and may help their recovery. Leaving ground cover such
as leaves, branches and logs will assist animals that make use of this habitat and may assist invertebrates that defoliate mistletoe. Fencing off reasonably large circular areas of native vegetation and taking care with agricultural practices (e.g. keeping fertilizers away from native
vegetation) will assist. Connecting small remnants with larger ones using corridors of native vegetation can restore natural movement patterns including those of birds that eat mistletoe fruits but do not aid dispersal, thus potentially reducing recruitment.
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I too viewed mistletoe as an evil up until this year, now it's just another VTA sign of something larger. And it is so often that the trees are fringe trees or roadside or middle of some nice lawn etc.