This tree in my front yard is continuously oozing sap and it looks like the bark has fallen away.
There were some plants growing around it that looked as though their roots were digging into the tree's roots... could that have been the problem? and if so will the tree heal itself?
Are there any other reasons the tree would be bleeding like this?
Thanks for your advise in advance :)
I think this may not have gone through since I wasn't subscribed when I posted it... I'm subscribed now. Hopefully this reply to my own post helps push it through :)
Most certainly that is a canker. Here is an article regarding such, hopefully it helps:
http://extension.psu.edu/pests/plant-diseases/all-fact-sheets/cankers
It's called bacterial wetwood - aka slime flux. Bacteria that are commonly found in soil and water, take up residence in trees, most often through wounds. The bacteria multiply, feeding on sap and depleting oxygen and creating methane. A high interior pressure develops in the wood, forcing the slime outward through any opening in the sapwood. The ooze usually kills grass and other vegetation at the base of the tree. Trees with the disease can live a long life as long as other stresses aren't piled on top of those produced by the disease.
Al
Wow, that's interesting. How do you get rid of such thing?
You don't. There is no "cure" for the condition. The tree will survive, but the owner should try to make sure it's not subjected to other stresses that can force the tree's systems to become so disordered that the organism reaches a stage where it can no longer retain viability.
Al
Thanks for the explanation.
Thanks All! How do I mark this as closed? I don't see the option here...
You can only mark a thread as 'closed' in the Plant or Bug ID forums. How is your tree doing btw?
