Lichens are non-parasitic and can grow ... They then gave me a 21 day extension on my deadline to remove it… so now 21 days later the tree looks beautiful," the user said.

But let's not forget the lichens. A hardy growth on the sides of tree trunks that often appears to be like paint has been on trees all winter. In the cold and dry winter air, they persist throughout.

Addressing these issues can improve the health of the plant, but removing lichens themselves is unnecessary.