Have a nice oak tree (white oak I think) on the side of my house that is suffering from some sort of problem (insect or fungus I think) around the trunk. There are several black oozing areas around the base of the trunk. When I pryed some bark away a flood of fluid came out from the inside of the bark area above the wound (black area) I could see some very small wormlike insects coming from one of these black areas, but when I opened it up with a chisel, got the rush of liquid and hollow area under the bark that was soft and appeared rotting. Can anyone help with a possible diagnosis here and treatment?

Regards,

Brian

Reply to post by Brian, on August 29, 2000 at 23:59:06:

Tree borers would be a good guess, with out seeing the tree or not knowing what State you are in.

Reply to post by Brian, on August 29, 2000 at 23:59:06:

This sounds like a bacterial canker infection. Bacteria enter the tree through tiny cracks or openings (borers or other insects ir injuries). The bacterial colony lives on the sap fluids, and destroys the cells of inner bark and cambium. The fluids collect in the dead tissues, and may ferment, causing an alcoholic odor, seepage, and even some foaming. The small worms and other critters you saw are living in the dead tree tissues and the sugars in the sap and ferment.

As to treatment, the advice will vary. If the areas of infection are small, cutting away the dead or damaged bark may help. There are some antibiotic injection materials that might help, but there can be no guarantee with those. Keep in mind that these are all invasive treatments, and injure the tree further. There applications should be done by a trained arborist, following a competent diagnosis on site.

The American Society of Consulting Arborists can recommend highly qualified arborists and consultants in your area. Their web site and database is at

http://www.asca-consultants.org

or contact the main office at

American Society of Consulting Arborists
15245 Shady Grove Road
Suite 130
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 947-0483

The International Society of Arboriculture maintains a current list of ISA Certified Arborists. The searchable list can be accessed at the ISA Web site, at:
http://www.isa-arbor.com


[Note: Diagnosis of plant problems cannot be accurate when done "over the wire". Other factors may influence plant response, or other problems not mentioned/noticed may be present. Consultation on-site with a qualified plant professional is highly recommended for critical plant problems. The comments and suggestions provided here are solely intended to help educate the reader to possible problems and treatments. Mention of specific products does not imply endorsement, nor preclude the use of other suitable materials.

Pesticide recommendations should be verified locally for suitability, availability, and government approval for use. When using pesticides, READ THE LABEL. Follow all label warnings, precautions, and instructions as provided.]