What is desert mistletoe?

A parasitic plant native to the Sonoran Desert that grows on palo verde, mesquite, ironwood, and acacia. It sinks roots into the branch and feeds off the tree. A few clumps won't kill a healthy tree, but heavy infestations weaken it over years.

How does mistletoe spread?

Mostly by birds, especially phainopeplas, which eat the sticky berries and leave seeds on the next branch they land on. That's why one infested tree tends to seed the trees around it.

Can you just pull the mistletoe off?

Pulling the visible clump off doesn't remove the roots inside the branch, so it grows back. Proper removal means pruning the limb below the attachment point, or cutting it flush and monitoring if the limb is too important to lose.

Sometimes, which is why we set up follow-up checks. New clumps from bird-dropped seed and regrowth from old sites are both easy to handle when they're small.

Tree Health & Arborist Care

Goodyear Mistletoe Removal — Get It Out of Your Palo Verde and Mesquite Before It Spreads

Those leafless clumps in your palo verde aren't a bird's nest, and our mistletoe removal in Goodyear, AZ gets them out properly. Martinez prunes desert mistletoe out of palo verde, mesquite, ironwood, and acacia at the point it's attached, then sets up a check-back schedule so new sprouts are caught early instead of taking over the canopy.

(623) 882-5477

Free, No-Obligation Estimates
Price Before Work Begins
Spotless Cleanup Included

ISA Certified Arborists

Licensed & Insured

BBB Accredited · A- Rated

20+ Years Arborist Experience

Mistletoe Removal in Goodyear, AZ by Martinez Expert Tree

Customer Reviews

Real Results, Real Mistletoe Removal

“Tree trimming service. Martinez Elite Tree & Landscaping crew did an outstanding job from start to finish! Their team was professional, punctual, and extremely hardworking. They paid attention to every detail and made sure everything was done right.…”

Tony Lopez

Google review · 6 months ago

“Great communication. Had good understanding of the tree and what needed removed to keep it healthy. Liked the consult before setting the work. Extremely professional. Were quick and clean. Highly recommend, will use again.”

Amy Languell

Google review · 5 months ago

“Martinez Expert Tree Services did an amazing job on my backyard! They are very professional and got the job done with no issues! They did our irrigation, gravel, and planted trees (palo verdes & purple plums) and our backyard looks amazing, we love it!”

Lyssa

Google review · 5 months ago

5.0 rating · 13 Google reviews

ISACertified Arborist
AZDACertified Applicator
CertifiedTree Workers
Licensed& Insured
BBB A-Accredited Business
100%Satisfaction Guarantee

Trees we work with

Mistletoe Removal for the species that actually grow in Goodyear

Palo verde
Mesquite
Ironwood
Acacia
Catclaw

Do you need this service?

Mistletoe is worth addressing when you see:

01
Dense, leafless, greenish-brown clumps hanging in the canopy
02
Branches beyond the clumps dying back or thinning out
03
Sticky red or pink berries dropping under the tree in winter
04
Lots of phainopeplas (the crested black birds) working the tree
05
Neighboring palo verdes and mesquites picking up new clumps

Spotting one of these? Call (623) 882-5477 for a free look before the next monsoon makes the call for you.

Martinez crew member climbing a tree above the branded chip truck at a Goodyear-area home

Martinez crew, West Valley job site

The Martinez Standard

What Our Mistletoe Removal Service Includes

Our mistletoe service includes:

Inspection of the tree and nearby trees to map every infestation
Pruning infected limbs back below the attachment point where the limb can be spared
Cutting the mistletoe flush where removing the limb isn't an option
Care to keep the tree's structure and shade intact — no butchering
A monitoring schedule to catch regrowth and new bird-spread clumps

Why it matters

The Payoff You'll Actually Notice

Stop the Drain

Mistletoe pulls water and nutrients from the host — removing it lets a stressed tree recover.

Protect the Neighbors

Birds spread it tree to tree; clearing it early keeps it from moving down the block.

Keep the Tree

Caught before it spreads through the canopy, most infested trees are fully saveable.

How It Works

Getting Started Is Simple

Call or Request a Free Estimate

Tell us what you need. We'll set a time that works and give you upfront, no-obligation pricing.

We Handle Everything

Our ISA Certified crew does the job right — safely, on schedule, and with complete cleanup.

Enjoy Healthy, Safe, Beautiful Trees

You're left with a spotless property and trees that are healthier, safer, and looking their best.

Local to Goodyear

Mistletoe Removal Where You Live in the West Valley

Anywhere Goodyear backs up to native desert has mistletoe. The lots along the base of the Estrella Mountains, the edges of Estrella Mountain Regional Park, and the washes around Rainbow Valley are full of infested wild mesquite and palo verde, and the phainopeplas carry it straight into the landscape trees in Estrella and Canyon Trails. The builder-planted palo verdes in Wildflower Ranch and Centerra are young enough that a single clump matters. Winter is when it's obvious: the clumps stay green while the canopy thins, and you'll see the berries on the driveway. Check your neighbors' trees too; it moves down the street.

Also serving the West Valley

All 15 cities we serve

How our pricing works

What Mistletoe Removal Costs, and Why

No price list, no surprises. Here is exactly how we quote every job in the West Valley.

Quoted for your trees, not off a price list

Every quote is built around the actual trees on your property: size, height, condition, and access. Bundle several trees or services into one visit and the whole job usually prices better than piecing it out.