Holes in Big Tree

bignadad · 30th December 2007, 06:54 PM

i have a tree that i have in my front yard that has holes all throughout it. some holes are large and some are small and in a almost perfect line.

i think the tree is a sweetgum. it has the pollen balls that fall in the spring.

the tree did get hit by lightning about 5 years ago. the top has had large branches that have fallen and it looks bad.

is it a termite problem?

i have pictures at the following address
http://www.bakerabilenemachine.com/1.jpg
http://www.bakerabilenemachine.com/2.jpg

bigshea13 · 30th December 2007, 07:03 PM

got any full size shots of that beauty?

Ekka · 30th December 2007, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bignadad

is it a termite problem?

i have pictures at the following address
http://www.bakerabilenemachine.com/1.jpg
http://www.bakerabilenemachine.com/2.jpg

Not sure where you are but that looks like borers, different types, big holes/little holes and some fungal decay.

Obviously the bug bell is ringing loud and clear ... it's an all you can eat buffet!

An overall pic would be good, where exactly are you like state/city etc?

osb_mail · 31st December 2007, 08:24 AM

birds make holes ,that are in line like you 2nd pictures

newguy18 · 31st December 2007, 12:16 PM

Those look like sapsucker holes.If it were wood borers it wouldn't have a linear pattern.Theres also some decay in it.Like asked before a pic of the tree overall and have a qualified arborist look at it as a picture can only say so much.

Ekka · 31st December 2007, 12:47 PM

Hmmm, we dont get any birds doing stuff like that, oh, we get cockatoos eating bark off mainly around crotches of eucs.

Sap suckers, what are they, birds too?

bigshea13 · 31st December 2007, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Hmmm, we dont get any birds doing stuff like that, oh, we get cockatoos eating bark off mainly around crotches of eucs.

Sap suckers, what are they, birds too?

yaeh. they re little birds that can crawl upside down and make swiss cheese out of the trees. usually fruit trees. the seem to leave the ever greens alone.

Ekka · 31st December 2007, 01:26 PM

That looks bad, how do you stop them doing that? And why do they do that?

Maybe gotta hang fake cats around the tree.

newguy18 · 31st December 2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

That looks bad, how do you stop them doing that? And why do they do that?

Maybe gotta hang fake cats around the tree.

A .22 rifle usually stops them.

mdvaden · 31st December 2007, 02:20 PM

We get them out here.

Here's a white birch with the holes - Attached below

We also get Acorn woodpeckers - those are more restricted to deadwood, and they seem to prefer working up higher with their acorns.

Also attached and here - it decided it liked the bird feeder too.

Seems that your tree - if a sweet gum - may have evidence of more than just sapsuckers. Sapsuckers yes. Other, not sure. Could be just the one bird.

Ekka · 31st December 2007, 02:28 PM

Jeez Mario

And we're worried about spiking trees!

azrael · 31st December 2007, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Hmmm, we dont get any birds doing stuff like that, oh, we get cockatoos eating bark off mainly around crotches of eucs......

Luckily...by all appearances.

It's useful to be able to recognize habitat trees and the resulting lesions.

Here in Aust. there are mammals which include Eucalypt sap in their diet, and wound the tree to obtain sap flow...and may re-visit and re-wound many times over. The Yellow Bellied Glider is ususlly the culprit.
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/re...55ybglider.pdf

TreeDimensional · 31st December 2007, 08:40 PM

bignadad, where is BVille? Both photos could be the result of sap sucker damage. If you live in an area where these protected little buggers live, and the little voice in your head is telling you that there MIGHT be a problem, get someone who is qualified in risk assestment to come and have a look. Even better, get a couple qualified assements, ?ause in todays world everyone is in the CYA mode.

Attached is a picture of a tree that was weakened as the result of poor management and poorer arboricultural practices. The tree had a sapsucker entrance hole 2.5" in diameter. This hole went down the center of the deadwood between 12 and 14". It was a column about six inches in diameter, and weakened the union resulting in 70' of poplar hinged on the roof of a two story cabin.

bigshea13 · 1st January 2008, 06:52 AM

A .22 rifle usually stops them.

use a .22 with bird shot so it doesnt blast up tree. this is a good reason not to hanf feeders on important trees/shrubs. they dont seem to bother evergreens

30th December 2007, 06:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
bignadad I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: BVille Posts: 1	Holes in Big Tree i have a tree that i have in my front yard that has holes all throughout it. some holes are large and some are small and in a almost perfect line. i think the tree is a sweetgum. it has the pollen balls that fall in the spring. the tree did get hit by lightning about 5 years ago. the top has had large branches that have fallen and it looks bad. is it a termite problem? i have pictures at the following address http://www.bakerabilenemachine.com/1.jpg http://www.bakerabilenemachine.com/2.jpg

30th December 2007, 07:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
bigshea13 Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: hiding Posts: 386	Re: Holes in Big Tree got any full size shots of that beauty?

31st December 2007, 08:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
osb_mail Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ohio Posts: 203	Re: Holes in Big Tree birds make holes ,that are in line like you 2nd pictures

31st December 2007, 12:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Live Oak Florida home of the crapiest trees you will ever see. Posts: 2,629	Re: Holes in Big Tree Those look like sapsucker holes.If it were wood borers it wouldn't have a linear pattern.Theres also some decay in it.Like asked before a pic of the tree overall and have a qualified arborist look at it as a picture can only say so much. __________________ Have your say join us today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzkd_m4ivmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzfzb...eature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OqK...eature=related Last edited by newguy18 : 31st December 2007 at 12:18 PM. Reason: added to post

31st December 2007, 12:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,869	Re: Holes in Big Tree Hmmm, we dont get any birds doing stuff like that, oh, we get cockatoos eating bark off mainly around crotches of eucs. Sap suckers, what are they, birds too? __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

31st December 2007, 01:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,869	Re: Holes in Big Tree That looks bad, how do you stop them doing that? And why do they do that? Maybe gotta hang fake cats around the tree. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

31st December 2007, 02:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,869	Re: Holes in Big Tree Jeez Mario And we're worried about spiking trees! __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

1st January 2008, 06:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
bigshea13 Mature tree Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: hiding Posts: 386	Re: Holes in Big Tree A .22 rifle usually stops them. use a .22 with bird shot so it doesnt blast up tree. this is a good reason not to hanf feeders on important trees/shrubs. they dont seem to bother evergreens

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