Dear Amy: I live in Bastrop - have 4 Chinese Pistacios, ~ about 15 years old. Lichen or moss problem in all 4, but seems to be affecting health of only 2/4, at least presently. The two trees in northwest lawn are spectacular, 2 on Southwest lawn have had chronic problems that weakened them, including construction compaction of soil. After deep aeration/sick tree food couple times in last six years they improved but never cought up to the beauty of the other 2 on NW lawn. Increasing so over last several years the two SW trees have large burden of some type of compact lichen or moss all over the branches - not ball moss, this is light green ochre flecks and lacy/fern like. Is there a treatment I can do myself, or do you know of an arborist that will come to Bastrop? Lezlee Coghlan lezleecog@aol.com; 512-237-9321

5/12/200812:25:19 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

Potassium Bicarbonate, Tree Questions

The moss on the trees are normal, they will not hurt the trees, if you would like to get rid of the moss you can spray it with Potassium Bicarbonate at a rate of 2 tablespoons per gallon of water. As for the lack of growth with your tree in the south west corner, the stress put on the tree due to soil compaction was your biggest set back on growth and will continue to show signs. Keep fertilizing and applying compost on the soil around the tree to keep it loose, it may catch up and it may not.