Question
Hardwood Tree
While the upper branches remain in full leaf, the base has long, sealed, vertical "wounds". Some weeping of dark black substance. Evidence of carpenter (?) ants. I have been told everything from a yeast infection to termites. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
AnswerThe wounds look to be made sometime in the past and are starting to heal. The wet places look like an insect called a borer. These bore into the bark and wood and the tree will leak sap from the wounds causing the dark looking wet spots. I would spray the areas with an insecticide called Onyx or Merit. These insecticides will be absorbed by the bark and kill the insect under the bark. I would also spray the large wound with the insecticide and this will prevent borers from infesting the open wound. Borers attack trees that are under stress so I would fertilize the tree with 10-10-10 fertilizer at the rate of 1 lb of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. Apply the fertilize just before a rain storm and you will not have to water. Do this not and again in the early spring. This will increase the overall health of the root system and the tree. Check with your local garden type store for these insecticides.
