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When animals or people bleed, the loss of blood could be life-threatening. As such, many individuals tend to make the same assumption about trees that bleed excessive amounts of sap. An arborist, however, would tell you otherwise. There are several reasons why a tree’s sap may ooze from its bark, and understanding why this happens is an effective approach to decreasing this issue.

Why Trees Bleed Sap

Like animals, trees also have a vascular system, called phloem, where sap — a sticky, sugary liquid made up of water and nutrients — is transported. Since the tree’s phloem runs vertically on the tree, it carries the nutrients from leaves to other parts. A deep cut on the branch or trunk severs a part of the phloem, which causes the sap to flow out suddenly.

Aside from pruning and accidental damage from equipment or animals, bleeding also happens when pests like bark beetles attack trees by boring holes into them. These insects also spread fungal or bacterial cankers that infect trees, causing sap to seep out and weaken them over time. If you notice garden pests crowding bleeding trees, call an arborist for advice on how to resolve the problem.

How to Address This Issuearborist

Most trees produce sap, but some species tend to yield more than others. Maple, beech, elm, birch, walnut, and linden are some of the trees found in Missouri that tend to bleed out sap excessively. To avoid this, there are ideal times when pruning a specific species should be done. For deciduous trees this time is when they lose leaves in autumn to early winter — their bleeding is minimized in this dormant state. Trees like walnut and birch are considered bleeders and early risers for spring, so it’s best to prune them in the fall to early winter. Ask an arborist about the correct seasons to prune your trees.

In addition to pruning them at the right time, avoid covering the wound, binding, or painting over it to let it heal naturally. There are instances when wrapping causes moisture buildup and results in a fungal disease. The exceptions to this are oak and elm trees since they are vulnerable to oak wilt and Dutch elm disease, respectively.

 

It’s only natural for trees to bleed out sap, especially when they sustain damage. For quality tree services, count on the arborists at Liscombe Tree Service. Serving the community in and around St. Charles County, MO, they provide outstanding services ranging from tree trimming to stump grinding. Call (314) 650-9055 to schedule a tree health inspection or inquire via their website.

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