Why Is My Tree Leaking Water

Avoid cutting down a healthy tree because of a misguided diagnosis. Wetwood is a common condition that could lead to grave tree health problems but is more beneficial than you might think.

fasttreeremovalatlanta.com gathered information on wetwood and slime flux, how to identify them, and how these conditions affect trees.

What Is Wetwood?

Wetwood is a bacterial condition occurring commonly within the heartwood and/or sapwood of certain tree species, primarily in:

• Birches (Betula)
• Poplars (Populus)
• Sycamores (Platanus Occidentalis)
• Maples (Acer)
• Boxelders (Acer Negundo)
• Ash (Fraxinus)
• Aspens (Populus Tremuloides)
• Elms (Ulmus)
• Cottonwoods (Populus)
• Oaks (Quercus)
• Firs (Abies)
• Hemlocks (Tsuga)
• Willows (Salix)

Traditionally viewed as a nuisance or a disease, wetwood is more of a symbiosis in which the tree creates favorable conditions for any one or combination of numerous bacteria to flourish.

Many of the tree species in which wetwood occurs do not have decay fighting extractives and would be highly vulnerable to fungal infections without the occurrence of the bacteria.

This bacterial growth creates unfavorable conditions for harmful pulp-consuming fungi by lowering the oxygen content of the wood while producing inhibitory organic acids.

The organic acids produced by the bacteria are responsible for the odor associated with wetwood, and slime flux (the liquid that leaks or oozes from the tree).

Bacterial Wetwood and Slime Flux

When a tree with wetwood is wounded, the fluids produced by the bacteria and the tree’s sap will ooze from the wound. Thus, the appearance that the tree is leaking water. The following are essential to know before breaking out the pruning gear:

Bacteria By-Product – Within the tree, the fluids produced by the tree’s heartwood and by the bacteria are clear or opaque. Once exposed to the air, they take on a darker appearance, leaving blackened streaks running down the bark.

During the lifecycle of the bacteria, gases are produced, which cause pressure to build up within the tree. Over time, the pressure-driven fluids find an exit path through wounds, cracked bark, storm damage, or boring insect attacks. It is common to see several streaks.

This fluid is acidic, smells sour, attracts a variety of insects, and can quickly damage the tree’s bark. If not neutralized, it can eventually eat through the bark and away at the tree’s trunk leaving a gaping hole in the tree (see treatment measures below).

Trees with wetwood are notorious for spraying or squirting this putrid-smelling fluid when pruning cuts are made.

A crucial aspect of tree health is knowing when to prune, cut, or even remove your trees. Learn more about the process and timing at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/when-tree-pruning-cutting-emergency-removal-atlanta-ga

Slime Flux without Wetwood – A tree without wetwood may still produce black ooze, white foam, or slime flux when it is wounded or poorly pruned and the exiting sap is contaminated by any of the wetwood causing bacteria.

The potential for this scenario underscores the need to work with sanitized equipment whenever working from tree to tree.

Equipment Treatment – All equipment used to prune or handle a tree with wetwood or slime flux should be sanitized using a 5 part water to 1 part bleach solution.

When Should I Call a Tree Service – As soon as you detect the symptoms of slime flux, call in a professional to evaluate the tree and what – if any – actions should be taken.

Slime Flux Treatment

There is no cure for bacterial wetwood. However, slime flux can and should be treated to prevent severe bark damage to your tree. To neutralize the bacteria and acidic properties of the fluids oozing from your tree, follow these steps:

1 – Mix 1 part bleach to 10 parts water and spray the affected areas of the tree. This solution is a more diluted version of the one used to sanitize your equipment.
2 – Apply the bleach solution once per week for four or more weeks.
3 – Discontinue using the bleach solution when you detect that the tree is healing and stops ejecting fluids.

While you have a tree leaking or oozing these fluids, keep the other trees and shrubs in your yard healthy and disease-free. Read more about tree and shrub disease prevention at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/5-tree-shrub-disease-prevention-tips

My Tree Is Oozing Sap

In this article, you discovered how wetwood and slime flux can make your tree appear to be leaking water, how to identify them correctly, and when to call a tree service for assistance.

By taking preventative and control measures, you can stop your tree from oozing the putrid-smelling fluid produced from bacterial wetwood.

Without taking action to control slime flux, you are creating the potential for insect infestations, fungal infections, declining health, and the eventual death of your tree.

Sources:
https://forestpathology.org/bacterial-viral-diseases/wetwood/
https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-and-plant-advice/help-diseases/wetwood
ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/wetwood-slime-flux/
gatrees.org/community-forests/ask-the-arborist/SlimeFlux.pdf
ask.extension.org/questions/568886

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Tree Planting – Location, Landscape, and the Right Species

Planting a tree is much more than digging a hole, putting a tree in it, and waiting for it to grow. Such a premise is ideal, but your plans may have to change if your desired species requires certain soil or weather conditions.

In this fasttreeremovalatlanta.com article, you will discover how to choose the right planting location, provide the right soil content for your tree, and how determine which species is right for your unique ecosystem.

Choosing a Tree Planting Location

You shouldn’t walk out and arbitrarily say “I’m going to plant a tree right here!” Instead, you are going to want to select two or three potential locations. Front yard, back yard, or property line, they all can work if the conditions are right.

So, once you’ve made your location selections, the following guideline will help you determine which and whether they are conducive to plant in.

Assessing Landscape and Structural Issues

Depending on the species, over half of a trees’ mass can be in its roots. The majority of them remain from 6in to 18in from the top of the soil. Some of the roots run deep, which is our first point to discuss.

As a tree will send some of its roots deep into the soil, it is important to know what is hidden or buried in the soil. Many cities have a “Call Before You Dig” program. In areas where this is not available, utility companies will generally send a technician to help you assess the situation.

Some of the things you are looking for are underground and will be color coded if uncovered. If any of the following run where you would like to dig, it is advisable that you move on to the next location. The color coding system and its respective utilities were developed by the American Public Works Association and are as follows:

Red – Power Lines, Cables, Conduits and Lighting Cables
Orange – Telecommunications, Alarm Lines, Cable and Internet Service Lines
Yellow – Natural Gas Lines and Other Gaseous or Flammable Material
Green – Sewer and Drain Lines
Blue – Water Main (Drinking Water)
Purple – Reclaimed Water
Pink – Unknown/Unidentified Utilities
White – Digging/Excavation limit or Route

Above ground, you will have to decide on the tree location after taking into consideration the surrounding structures and proximity of the following:

• Your home
• Sheds or other structures
• Fences
• Driveways
• Paved walkways or sidewalks
• Overhead power lines

Remember the following two principle aspects of tree growth as you narrow down the search for the right location.

What You See – As a tree grows, it gets taller, the canopy spreads, and the trunk thickens. In order for a tree to reach its growth potential, you will want to make sure there is nothing obstructing its growth path in all four directions.

What You Don’t See – As that same tree is growing upward, there’s a lot going on beneath the ground. Tree roots are on a constant mission to supply water and nutrients to the tree. They will often times spread 2 to 3 times the size of the canopy, and under the right conditions will grow very deep.

It is the spreading of the roots that will lead them underneath a home’s foundation or a driveway. As they mature and thicken, they will exert an upward pressure, potentially raising, breaking, or buckling whatever property or structure is above them.

Keep in mind that once roots establish themselves underneath a driveway or foundation, that structure becomes a part of the trees’ support system. Thus, the removal of that structure could create an imbalance and eventually cause the tree to fall.

Soil, Temperature and Wind

The other factors that are often overlooked have to do with the soil itself and the weather. Not all trees are suited for all soil types, and not all trees can handle freezing temperatures.

Soil – If the soil is compacted, take steps to aerate it, or turn mulch into it (this will help with drainage as well). Perform a soil test to determine if you have a need for fertilizer or other soil amendment.

Temperature – Before selecting a tree to plant, know which of the 10 USDA Hardiness Zones you are in. These 10 zones are mapped out based on the average annual winter temperature low. Plants, shrubs, and trees all have more potential to thrive within their designated zone.

Wind – If you live in an area that is prone to high winds or susceptible to severe weather, it should play an important role in your decision making for the location and species you will plant. In this scenario, you would probably be more successful with a shorter species located in a semi-protected area.

NOTE: Consider planting hedges and shrubs near the tree. They serve well to absorb and often divert the force of strong winds.

Tree Selection

Now that you have decided on a safe location and verified the soil, it’s time to choose the tree. Below are a few of the things to take into consideration during the selection process:

Evergreen or Deciduous – Evergreens like pine trees, allspice, and palm trees have little loss of foliage and typically stay green all year. Deciduous trees, such as oak, elm, or maple will lose their leaves in the fall and remain dormant through the winter until spring.

Understory or Overstory – Think of it this way, overstory trees like pine trees or elm trees can grow to great height 80 to 100ft. In a jungle, overstory trees are the ones you see from the air looking down. Understory trees are those that grow in the shade of the overstory trees. They will be shorter by nature, still with the potential to reach 20 to 40ft in height. Dogwood, crabapple and magnolias are typical understory trees.

Flowering or Fruit Bearing – Many species of trees will flower at a specific time of year, like magnolias, cherry or dogwood, and this will attract both birds and insects to your yard or landscape.

Fruit trees like apple, mango, fig, lemon, orange, and cherry are also a great option, they will offer annual rewards for your care and attention.

In all of the above options, it is extremely important that these trees be planted in areas that they are adapted to. Use the USDA Hardiness Zone Map before make a final decision on which species are most conducive to plant.

Planting the Right Tree in The Right Place

Armed with the above information, you should be ready to get your tree planted. It is important however to never take for granted that you are adding a living and growing entity to your landscape. Under the right conditions, trees can grow quite large and become very heavy.

Over time, your tree will need to be pruned, trimmed, or even have the crown thinned. The proper watering, fertilizing, and care of your tree will support it in fighting off disease and infestation. Bringing out a reputable tree service for an annual inspection will also serve to prevent any unforeseen issues your tree may experience.

The best way to ensure the long-term health of a newly planted tree begins with your getting the right tree in the right location. To avoid wasting money or energy, do your due diligence, and choose the right trees for the right environment.

For other tree planting tips, take a look at fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/tree-planting-soil-considerations-care-tips

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Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

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How to Maintain Your Fruit Trees This Spring

Caring for your fruit trees and maintaining them over the spring can lead to great benefits when summer rolls around. Fasttreeremovalatlanta.com assists homeowners in carefully pruning, feeding, and protecting your trees against pests and disease. This care means your fruit trees will produce larger and healthier crops.

While pruning is often performed on a dormant tree, there are benefits to spring pruning. When the tree begins to sprout leaves you can see which branches will be productive and which ones are dead. Deadwood is unable to produce any fruit and should be clipped off. Pruning at the optimal time limits how much trees grow and allows them to dedicate more energy to producing fruit. Visit fasttreeremovalatlanta.com/when-tree-pruning-cutting-emergency-removal-atlanta-ga for the best time to prune and cut your trees.

This article will highlight how to prevent contamination, pests, and best practices for applying fertilizer this spring so your fruit trees develop optimally.

New Seasons Bring Fruit Tree Contamination

Diseased leaves and rotting fruits can spread contamination during the new season. It’s important to get rid of any leaves or fruit left over from under the fruit tree at the start of spring. Spraying dormant oil early in the spring, before new shoots and buds can appear, helps to reduce scale and mites.

Spring is the opportune time to set insect traps for insects. One idea of a simple trap would be to cover a red ball that looks like an apple with petroleum jelly. Codling moths can be trapped with a liquid trap made up from a mixture of a banana, a cup of sugar, and a cup of vinegar. Hang the mixture from an apple tree to keep the moths at bay.

Apply Dormant Oil in Early Spring

A dormant oil spray is a refined petroleum product mixed with water. The spray is applied to shrubs and trees to control levels of aphids and spider mites, as well as scale. Dormant oils eliminate pests through suffocating them. A dormant oil spray should be applied as close to the bud breaking period as possible. When they are applied properly, the oil clogs the pores the mites and insects use to breath.

When using a dormant oil spray, timing is everything. They need to be applied before the tree shows signs of coming out of dormancy (before the buds break). It’s not effective to spray the dormant oil during late winter as the pests they work to stop aren’t actively respiring, and are not going to fall victim to the suffocating effects of the oil.

Fertilize New and Established Trees

A vital piece of care for new fruit trees is to establish them better in their environment. After a fruit tree becomes established, they pretty much take care of themselves. To get started with this process the first step is to plant them in the right planting site. It is also a good idea to fertilize new trees in the growing season to give them all the nutrients they need when they are most needed. The ideal time to fertilize trees would be the growing season – which is from around when the buds break in early spring to July. If you wait too long to fertilize them it could cause the tree to grow when it should be getting ready for winter. Growth that is pushed too late in the season like this is also more likely to be injured by winter.

Fruit Trees Depend on Your Care

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that your fruit trees are living organisms, even if they aren’t running around or talking. They respond to the actions of humans. It’s crucial that you pay attention to how they are developing because it allows you to also understand what your tree needs, along with how it behaves and responds. When you know more about your tree, it allows you to properly respond to encourage growth and fertility. A tree that is taken care of will live much longer than a human, and will produce plenty of fruit.

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Fast Tree Removal Services Atlanta

3379 Peachtree Road #555a, Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 220-9965

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