Are your pines leaking sap? Are there small holes in the bark, about the diameter of a pencil? Then it would behoove you to read through this short article.

A pine tree can leak sap due to two main reasons: mechanical wounding, or insect invasion. If a tree is wounded, scraped, cut, etc., then at the point where that tree is wounded, sap will appear, and seal the wounded spot on the tree. However, if the tree is not wounded and multiple “points” of sap excretion exist, this could be a sign of a greater problem — pine bark beetles. (Note: even if the tree has no visible sap, a possibility during dry periods, you should examine your trees for the presence or absence of pitch tubes or small holes in the bark.)

Bark beetle attacks can be recognized by a combination of any of the following factors: presence of a dust caused by the beetles boring into the tree; pitch tubes on the outside of the bark, usually the size of the end of a pencil (hint — use a good pair of binoculars to observe the middle and upper trunk and the base of large limbs); sap leaking from the bark of the tree; or extreme yellowing or browning of the pine needles.

In any of these cases, the news is usually grim and in most cases it will require the removal of the trees — yes, the whole thing. It is not recommended that you do this yourself, especially if it is near to your home. Instead, find a certified Arborist (tree specialist) at isa-arbor.org, click on the link “Find a Certified Arborist” and enter your zip code.

To receive a University of Georgia publication on Pine Bark Beetles, go to www.fayettecountyga.gov, click on Departments at the top, then click on Extension, then click on Publications and enter ‘Pine Bark Beetles’ in the search box. Call the Fayette County Extension Office at 770-460-5730 ext. 5412 to receive publications by snail mail.

— Nicholas Ray
Fayette County extension agent

login to post comments