Removing the "moss" - actually an epiphytic plant (Tillandsia) that uses trees for a support - is unnecessary. It is not harmful or damaging to the tree at all although a very heavy colony could block some sunlight, which might make the canopy less dense and obstruct free flowering.

But paying $700 for removal on a tree that size is nuts! You can easily remove some or most of it yourself with a stepladder and a long handled rake.

That is what my husband said, but it is not as easy as you make it sound (I have tried it). He wants to give it a go on his own, but the way he operates (slowly, LOL), he will still be trying to get this moss out into Autumn - as more moss collects! And, as the Spanish moss collects, more and more ball moss joins it. Both are spreading to our 5 yo drake elm as well. The odd thing is there is none in my neighbor's oak tree! This tree is shaded much of the time and I think that also poses an additional issue.

I suspect the cost is due to everyone wanting to come with a cherry picker in order to reach as much as they can, as easily as they can.

Each year this tree has less and less foliage/flowering on it. I know it is not supposed to harm the tree, but it seems as if it is.

That tree is a good size and it will take years to replace that tree. I say you pay the $700.

I'd use $100 and take your husband out for a night on the town and then take the remaining $600 to a tree expert and see what's causing the decline. It might be in need of some pruning of deadwood and cutting out less vigorous growth. If it bothers you they could probably pull out a bunch of the moss while they're at it.

The moss is a minor problem The real problem is it is too close to the house, The tree should be cut back before it damages the roof of your house. (Some limbs are already on the roof.) Being this close to the house, it may be necessary to either cut it back significantly or cut it out completely.

If you leave it there it will continue to grow, I know of one that is environmentally a perfect position that has grown to over 60 feet in about 30 years.

The surprisingly heavy growth of Tillandsia usneoides* is much more novel and interesting than the Lagerstroemia would be by itself. So, if the situation were mine, I wouldn't do anything. Except removing the branches touching the roof. Otherwise, if it happens you are someplace within a few miles of saltwater cutting the entire tree down might actually be a good idea - so it does not ever function as a ladder for wharf rats.

*A flowering plant in the pineapple family, related therefore to pineapples and other bromeliads. And producing little green flowers among the "moss"

Krnuttle -

That tree is over 30 years old as it is. We do trim off branches that hit the roof. I don't think it is going to pose any problem to the house or roof if it hasn't already.

Embothrium -

The tree once was pretty - nice foliage and beautiful flowers. As the moss increases, the foliage/flowers have been decreasing. Sorry, I don't find it 'interesting' at all. Not near salt water, so no wharf rats.

"As the moss increases, the foliage/flowers have been decreasing."

This can be a bit of a chicken and the egg situation. Often any decline in vitality of a tree festooned with Spanish moss is due to other environmental or cultural causes, not the moss itself. The moss proliferates because the tree is already in decline. This is very similar to trees heavily laden with lichen...it is not the lichen that is causing the decline but only its ability to take advantage of better, more open growing conditions to spread more aggressively.

So in short, it may be a reverse cause and effect. The moss is not causing the decline but only taking advantage of it.

btw, crape myrtles are a popular host tree for this epiphyte.

gardengal48 -

That is kind of why I was asking if the tree is salvageable if I were to have the moss removed.

This started back when I had an older drake elm start to decline - that is when the moss showed up, and I eventually had to have the tree removed. But, by that time, the moss decided to move on to the crepe myrtle. This crepe myrtle never had moss before it began in the drake elm.

I suppose what you are suggesting is having an arborist take a look at the condition of the tree itself before doing anything?