BATON ROUGE — A large-scale ball moss cleanup will be held in downtown Baton Rouge, and the community is looking for volunteers. 

The cleanup will start at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 10 at the City Club of Baton Rouge at 355 North Boulevard and last until noon. The team will stay around North Boulevard and surrounding downtown streets to remove and bag ball moss from trees. 

Ball moss is a plant commonly found on Baton Rouge trees. While small amounts typically do not harm a healthy tree, heavy populations can contribute to challenges for trees. Proper removal and disposal can help reduce its spread and protect the city’s tree canopy.

The event is being hosted by Clean Pelican, in partnership with Councilwoman Laurie Adams, the City Club of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Green, LSU AgCenter and other community partners. 

The cleanup builds on Baton Rouge Green’s Bag the Ball Moss initiative, which encourages residents and property owners to properly remove and securely bag ball moss rather than leaving removed material on the ground where it can continue to spread.

“Taking care of our city starts with taking care of the places we share,” Adams said in a prepared statement. “Our trees are an important part of what makes Baton Rouge beautiful. When neighbors come together to volunteer, we’re not only improving our streets and public spaces; we’re building a stronger sense of pride and ownership in our city.”

Volunteers of all experience levels are welcome. Registration is available here.