United Kingdom 
I have an Apple tree growing well and producing fruit but it has a large brunch of mistletoe growing from the trunk. Might this be harming the tree or the fruit? If so, how do you suggest I remove it? It grows within easy reach from the ground.
The fruit is a cooking apple but each apple has brown scabs on the skin although I do have a sticky band around the trunk. Is there a cure? Is the mistletoe responsible for this scab?
29 Aug, 2016
Answers
Some folk try very hard to get mistletoe to grow on their apple tree! They would be envious.
29 Aug, 2016
Agree Stera folk struggle to try and get to grow usually.
29 Aug, 2016
No, it won't be the mistletoe causing the brown marks, more likely scab infection, see last link below for that. Mistletoe is common on apple trees, and although it is parasitic, using nutrients from the tree, it doesn't usually kill the host,though it may weaken it a bit. The only way to get rid of it is to remove the entire branch on which it is growing, and that's not always a good idea. Info on mistletoe here
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=134
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=81
29 Aug, 2016