Tree Help Needed!!!

Mac2479 · 23rd October 2009, 08:37 AM

Hi, i have a tree that i think might be pretty sick... it seems to be draining some liquid. it is very watery and has no smell. I noticed it seems like there is a crack in the tree where the liquid is coming out. i do not know what kind of tree it is... but i inculeded a picture of a leaf for your identification purposes...

Apocalypsse · 24th October 2009, 09:19 AM

Fixed pics.

<above pics were download, resized, loaded to this server, posts edited and pics embedded, a lot of work when people do not adhere to the rules here. Loading pictures to Treeworld means they are hosted here, not elsewhere ... thanks for your help Apocalypsse ....regards Admin>

pcarborist · 24th October 2009, 06:50 PM

It's a maple (possibly a sugar maple) and it has bacterial wetwood.

Urban Treecare NZ · 30th October 2009, 06:10 AM

Hi Mac,
As stated my pcarborist, the tree has bacterial wetwood. This is most likely caused by the crack , called an included Union. As the tree moves, the crack pushes out a small amount of fluid. This is not harmful but it shows that the crack is not completely sealed although there is signs of new cambium growth in the centre. I would suggest getting a Qualified Arborist to check the union for you piece of mind and he can suggest a solution.
Treekiwi

pcarborist · 30th October 2009, 11:58 AM

Right, altho there's no control for wetwood, it's not as bad as it sounds. Because wetwood keeps the wood wet, it prohibits the growth of decay fungi therefore it stalls the breakdown of mechanical support. If you try to drain it you destroy the protection from the wetwood. What I would be concerned with is that nasty crack. Like TK said, get someone to examine that crack.

TreeSpecialist · 29th January 2010, 01:10 AM

What was missing from your pictures was a view of the crown. It looks like a tree that could use some cables to prevent it from splitting into 2 pieces.

Research done many years ago by Dr. Alex Shigo?showed that bacterial wetwood (or slime flux) actually allows the tree to remain flexible. Installing drains always makes the wetwood worse as it spreads the bacterial infection.

Leave the wetwood alone and it will usually dry up each summer only to return the following spring.

There is no treatment for it because it is occurring in dead tissue through which it is impossible to introduce any chemical.

Red Dot · 16th April 2010, 08:54 PM

Photo taken shows either the included bark due to codominant trunk or cracks. Need further investigation on the current status whether the insipient crack still propagating.

glennak · 16th April 2010, 10:25 PM

Yes show a bit more of the tree.

cte539 · 16th April 2010, 11:25 PM

tree should be identified as
Silver Maple
Acer saccharinum
Paul

23rd October 2009, 08:37 AM	#1
Mac2479 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 1	Tree Help Needed!!! Hi, i have a tree that i think might be pretty sick... it seems to be draining some liquid. it is very watery and has no smell. I noticed it seems like there is a crack in the tree where the liquid is coming out. i do not know what kind of tree it is... but i inculeded a picture of a leaf for your identification purposes...

24th October 2009, 09:19 AM	#2
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,152	Re: Tree Help Needed!!! Fixed pics. <above pics were download, resized, loaded to this server, posts edited and pics embedded, a lot of work when people do not adhere to the rules here. Loading pictures to Treeworld means they are hosted here, not elsewhere ... thanks for your help Apocalypsse ....regards Admin> Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Eric Frei; 24th October 2009 at 05:01 PM. Reason: loaded pics to server

24th October 2009, 06:50 PM	#3
pcarborist Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PC Posts: 176	Re: Tree Help Needed!!! It's a maple (possibly a sugar maple) and it has bacterial wetwood. __________________ parkcityarborist

30th October 2009, 06:10 AM	#4
Urban Treecare NZ Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4) + Diploma in Arboriculture (Level 6) Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: New Zealand Posts: 256	Re: Tree Help Needed!!! Hi Mac, As stated my pcarborist, the tree has bacterial wetwood. This is most likely caused by the crack , called an included Union. As the tree moves, the crack pushes out a small amount of fluid. This is not harmful but it shows that the crack is not completely sealed although there is signs of new cambium growth in the centre. I would suggest getting a Qualified Arborist to check the union for you piece of mind and he can suggest a solution. Treekiwi __________________ www.urbantree.co.nz www.urbantreecare.co.nz

30th October 2009, 11:58 AM	#5
pcarborist Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: PC Posts: 176	Re: Tree Help Needed!!! Right, altho there's no control for wetwood, it's not as bad as it sounds. Because wetwood keeps the wood wet, it prohibits the growth of decay fungi therefore it stalls the breakdown of mechanical support. If you try to drain it you destroy the protection from the wetwood. What I would be concerned with is that nasty crack. Like TK said, get someone to examine that crack. __________________ parkcityarborist

29th January 2010, 01:10 AM	#6
TreeSpecialist Mature tree Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 373	Re: Tree Help Needed!!! What was missing from your pictures was a view of the crown. It looks like a tree that could use some cables to prevent it from splitting into 2 pieces. Research done many years ago by Dr. Alex Shigo?showed that bacterial wetwood (or slime flux) actually allows the tree to remain flexible. Installing drains always makes the wetwood worse as it spreads the bacterial infection. Leave the wetwood alone and it will usually dry up each summer only to return the following spring. There is no treatment for it because it is occurring in dead tissue through which it is impossible to introduce any chemical. __________________

16th April 2010, 08:54 PM	#7
Red Dot Sappling Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: S.E.A Posts: 17	Re: Tree Help Needed!!! Photo taken shows either the included bark due to codominant trunk or cracks. Need further investigation on the current status whether the insipient crack still propagating.

16th April 2010, 10:25 PM	#8
glennak Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Melbourne Posts: 179	Re: Tree Help Needed!!! Yes show a bit more of the tree.

16th April 2010, 11:25 PM	#9
cte539 Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Accord, NY USA Posts: 50	Re: Tree Help Needed!!! tree should be identified as Silver Maple Acer saccharinum Paul

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