Question
Our tree had some branches cut off last week, due to Detroit Edison.  We live in Michigan and spring officially starts this coming weekend, Saturday, March 21st.  The tree is (of course) losing sap from those branches.  The largest branches only being about "wrist" size.  What can we do to seal those wounds and protect the tree for the year?

Answer
This is normal for maples that are pruned in the spring. But do not worry about it the leaking will stop in a month or so. During the spring there is a more pressure moving the water and food from the roots to the new foliage and any wound will leak. Usually tree pruned in the winter will heal over the cells around the wound and the leaking will not be present in the spring. Do not put wound dressing  on the wound this will slow the healing process. Watch the wound for evidence of any borer attack (boring dust or holes in the wound. IF these are seen I would spray the wound with an insecticide called Merit to kill and prevent borer infestation.

The chance of infestation by borers depends on the location of the tree and the population on borers in that area. The chance of death form borers depends on the size of the tree trunk the larger the tree the less chance of death (most of the death problems associated with borers is due to breakage of the stem). IF i were to guess I would say the chance of infestation is on the low side. I hope this answers your questions.