Several members of the Sonoma team have received comments regarding the Mistletoe, which is mainly affecting the non-native Pin Oaks. Following is a blog from the past for those that may have missed it. Along with that, I am working with ownership on putting a tree program together for 2022.
Many of you have noticed and communicated regarding the trees that have Mistletoe attached to them. I can remember some of the same trees being affected during my first tenure back in 2005. Mistletoe is a parasitic plant that tends to attack non-native species. After a thorough review of the trees that have Mistletoe on them, 95% are non-native Pin Oaks.
The native Live and Valley Oaks do not have any issues, so our long-term plan will be to plant the native species when a need arrives. To eradicate Mistletoe, you have to physically remove it and then cover the area with material that will block the sunlight or else it will return. As you can imagine, this would be very time consuming, so the long-term plan will be to replace them with the appropriate native species in strategic areas where trees are needed on the golf course such as the dogleg corner at #15. Hopefully this gives you some insight into Mistletoe and why it becomes a problem when using non-native plant material.
Next week, we will begin our spring fairway aeration program. We decided to take advantage of the dry period we are going through currently. This will consist of an application of topdressing sand and core aeration. Hopefully the rain is not over for the season, but time will tell.
Yours in turf,
Stacy L. Wallace, Golf Course Superintendent
Sonoma Agronomy 