Quote:
Originally Posted by Topspinmo
if Spanish moss get bad enough it will smother the leaves, without enough leave the tree will loose it branches and eventually die, might take awhile but sooner or later some succumb to the parasite. with all the taxes the developer bring into the counties they pretty much get there way most of the time. just got to jump through few legal hoops.
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Correct in most respects, except that Spanish Moss is not a parasite. It is a bromeliad—a perennial herb in the pineapple family. Most bromeliads, including Spanish moss, are epiphytes. Epiphytes grow on other plants, but do not rely on them for nutrients. They take nutrients from the air and debris that collects on the plant.
Topspinmo is correct that Spanish Moss can become so thick on a tree that it shades the leaves to the point that it blocks photosynthesis. Then the tree can become stressed and subject to disease.
Back before tree trimming became a major industry in Florida, it was commonplace to have people going door to door and offering to remove the overload of Spanish Moss from your trees for a nominal price. Some did not even climb the tree, but pulled the moss down with very long cane poles.
High school kids did it in Tampa to get spending money.
Regarding the last remark, if I had my way the Morse family could do what they chose with the trees on their property, so they could develop it as they saw fit,
with no need for any permits from anyone. I guess it's just my Libertarian side coming to the surface.