Ball Moss Control: How To Get Rid of Ball Moss

This page is a general ball moss control guide. Using the products and methods suggested, you will get control of ball moss. Follow this guide and use the recommended products, and we guarantee 100% control of ball moss.

When seeing ball moss on trees, some might think it is a fungal infection that will kill their plants. Ball moss is not a fungus, but an epiphyte, which is a plant that lives on other plants. Epiphytes are not parasitic and receive their nutrients from water and the atmosphere.

Ball moss will cling themselves onto limbs, tree trunks, power lines, fences, and many other structures. Because they photosynthesize like a plant for food, ball moss takes no nutrients from trees, so they are not harmful. If anything, the most harmful thing ball moss will do is take sunlight away from the trees if there is an abundant amount of this plant. Many people find ball moss unsightly and want to get rid of it.

If ball moss is growing on your trees, follow our DIY guide for the advice and products you need to eliminate ball moss quickly and effectively.

Identification

It is important to correctly identify your lawn problem as ball moss. This will help determine the product you should be using to treat your affected area.

Ball moss resembles a clump of stringy leaves. These leaves are usually long and gray or green in color. Their seeds resemble those of the common dandelion, spread mainly from wind, which grow and eventually bloom into a violet flower. Ball moss grows in areas with little sunlight and high moisture, and is commonly found in the southern U.S. Flowering occurs mainly during springtime.

Refer to the description and image above to confirm you are dealing with ball moss.

Inspection

Once you have correctly identified ball moss, take a look at your affected area to see where the ball moss is gathering.

Where To Inspect

Ball moss thrives in areas with shade and high moisture content, which is easily accessible on or near a tree. As trees grow, their lower limbs die out due to increased shade which provides for an ideal spot of ball moss to gather and reside.

What To Look For

Look for ball moss on or around your tree. They look like gray or green clumps with long, thin leaves. When ball moss blooms, it may have a purple flower.

Treatment

Before handling or using any pesticides, make sure you have on the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand - chemical resistant gloves, long clothing, a mask, and eyewear. This equipment is essential because you will be spraying up towards the tree branches and you want to protect yourself from getting product on your skin.

The product you will be using to get rid of ball moss is Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide. This product is a copper fungicide which is proven to work well against moss outbreaks. Timing is an important part of the treatment process to eliminate ball moss before it infests. We recommend spraying around late February or March to successfully kill off all ball moss from a tree.

This products can be applied with a hand pump sprayer, hose-end sprayer, or a backpack sprayer. Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide is not recommended to use on ornamental plants growing underneath Live Oak trees nor on metal and masonry surfaces such as galvanized roofing, cars, houses, lawn furniture, etc.

Step 1: Measure and Mix

Before using any products, measure the height of the affected tree you want to treat. For ball moss applications, we recommend applying at a rate of 2 oz. of Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide per 1.5 gallons of water per foot of the tree height.

For example, if you have a tree that is 20 feet tall, you would use 30 gallons of water and 60 oz. of Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide to treat it (20 foot tree x 1.5 gallons of water = 30 gallons at 2 oz. of Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide per gallon).

After calculating the amount of Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide needed for the area you want to treat, you can begin to create a mixture. Fill your spray tank halfway with the appropriate amount of water, then add the desired amount of Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide. Fill your tank the rest of the way with remaining amount of water, then close the tank and shake well.

Step 2: Apply the Solution

Once you have diluted Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide with water, you are ready to begin treatment. Although ball moss may be affecting only some parts of your tree, spray the entire tree for maximum results.

Be sure to wet the ball moss tufts thoroughly, but not to the point of runoff. The ball moss should die in a matter of weeks after spraying. The plant will turn dark gray and remain attached to the tree, but the holdfasts which grip the tree will eventually decay.

The grip will weaken and they will fall off. A second application may be required after 12 months. Apply this product when wind speeds are less than 15 mph and when weather conditions are calm and stable.

Prevention

After applying treatment and getting rid of ball moss in your area, there are a few steps you can take to make sure this plant will not reappear.

To reduce shade, prune your trees to get rid of overgrown branches. Because ball moss lives in areas with high moisture and low sunlight, it is best to maintain your lawn regularly to reduce spots like this. Having a yard with adequate moisture and plenty of sunlight will reduce your chances of dealing with ball moss again.

Key Takeaways

• Ball moss is a type of plant that grows in areas with low sunlight and high moisture. Ball moss neither harms nor helps the tree's health. They can appear in large numbers on trees.
• Treating ball moss requires continual pruning and treatment with Liqui Cop Copper Fungicide. You will spray the entire tree with this solution and should see results in a matter of weeks.
• Be sure to maintain your lawn regularly, prune your trees, and reapply your solution to prevent ball moss from returning.