QuestionI have a newly planted honeylocust tree and it is oozing sap from the base of almost all the branches. Is this a disease, an insect, or is this natural?
AnswerHi there. oozing in trees can be caused by several factors, including insects,diseases and stress.
Cankers on trunk and branches, wilting and dieback - Affected trees develop cankers, or sores, on their trunks and branches. The cankers are elongated, sometimes sunken in the middle when new, and they often eventually girdle the tree. Commonly the bark turns orangish-brown or pale yellow orange and, in the South, a gummy substance leaks from the damaged tissue.
Canker disease - While relatively disease free in the wild, in their natural habitat, cultivated Honeylocusts are sometimes victims of a canker disease caused by a fungus. It has been linked to drought stress, occurring as it does, most frequently in the Great Plains region. There is some suspicion that cankers may also be caused by pruning wounds or sunburn. here is a good site on fungal problems.
http://gardening.yardener.com/YardenersPlantProblemSolver/DealingWIthPlantDiseas... copy and paste in your browser
Your best bet would be to contact your local ag dept.They may want a sample and be able to help you further. Hope this helps,Bill
