Ball Moss – is it harmful to trees?
No, ball moss is not harmful to trees. Ball moss is actually not a moss at all but a plant called a bromeliad that flowers and sets seeds. Ball moss absorbs water and nutrients from the atmosphere and only takes light and space from the tree. Ball moss is a weed and removing it from your trees is a personal decision. If you can tolerate the ugly, it will do little harm to your trees. If you want more attractive trees, ball moss must be managed. Your trees will be a little more vigorous without ball moss and they will be much more beautiful.
