While Spanish moss causes no harm to the tree upon which it resides, many homeowners desire it's removal for aesthetic reasons or for fear that too much of the moss will shield sunlight from reaching the grass or a garden beneath a tree. 

In any case, the complete removal of Spanish moss (especially from very large trees) should be handled by a professional to avoid skin irritation, unexpected felling of branches, or other tree-care related dangers. Should you attempt to go it alone, and want to remove it from a small, reachable area, here are a few tips to help get you started:

A word of caution: Always wear gloves when handling any tree work (including the removal of Spanish moss, as it is often infested with tiny bugs that cause skin irritation)
Step 1:
Rake only the lower limbs of the tree containing the Spanish moss. Pull the moss down with either your basic garden rake or by taking a long, sturdy pole with mounted with a hook at the end to grab the moss and pull it down. A 7-foot wooden dowel (2 to 3 inches in diameter) and a 2 to 3-inch hook are available for purchase at most local hardware stores.

Step 2:
WITH GLOVES, use your hands to pull the moss from the rake or hook, and carefully place it into a yard waste bag.

Step 3:
While we do not condone the use of a ladder in DIY tree work if you choose to climb a ladder, be sure the ladder is securely placed on level ground, and that you have a second person to hold the ladder in place as you climb. Please only climb the first two or three steps to reach low hanging moss, and leave anything above that level to tree professionals. Once you are securely on only the bottom parts of your ladder, have your second person (or "spotter") hand you the rake or hook to grab the moss and pull it down.

As always Professional Waterfront Cleanup will be happy to help, contact us for a free quote.