[Arid_gardener] re: Palo Verde - sap from cuts

Tue Jan 1 10:09:54 MST 2008

Thanks Dick,

Cicadas make some shallow tiny cuts in tree bark to lay eggs in tree twigs.   Later the grubs emerge from the twigs, drop, burrow in to the ground & develop into adults.    I've seen those cuts on ash trees,  they're very tiny, narrow, and non-threatening to the tree.

However, the cuts on my Palo Verde are huge.   They are almost a quarter inch wide in places, and some wrap 3 inches around the branch.   They cut all the way thru the green bark.   Looking closely, it appears the cuts are actually a series of closely spaced "bites" that overlap to form a line.   That may explain the woodpecker that keeps landing in that tree.   I haven't taken time to sit and watch, but I think that woodpecker could be the culprit.

The tree appears to be losing a lot of sap, enough to run down the slope along the ground.   Maybe I'll make a garlic solution to spray on the trunk and branches, in hopes that discourages the woodpecker.   Hope he doesn't like Italian food.

Best regards,

Nick

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dick 
  To: Nick ; arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu 
  Cc: WOODSTUFF2 at msn.com 
  Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 10:18 PM
  Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] re: Palo Verde - sap from cuts

  Haven't I read that cicadas during mating will emerge from their burros make what appear to be tiny claw marks in bark or am I remembering something from another planet.

  Dick Gross.
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Nick 
    To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu 
    Cc: WOODSTUFF2 at msn.com 
    Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 5:28 PM
    Subject: [Arid_gardener] re: Palo Verde - sap from cuts

    Hello,

    My 3-year old palo verde tree is losing sap from mysterious cuts on its trunk and main branches, so I searched and found your message below at http://cals.arizona.edu/pipermail/arid_gardener/2005-January/001840.html .   The cuts sound exactly like what my tree's got.

    Did you ever find out what caused the cuts on the bark ?  ( The cuts on my tree are NOT from a saw or other pruning activity. )

    I fear the cuts could kill my tree, so any info you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks & God Bless,

    Nick
    Scottsdale, AZ
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    [Arid_gardener] Palo Verde - sap oozing
    Linda Drew drew_linda at hotmail.com 
    Wed Jan 12 16:09:07 MST 2005 

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The symptoms you describe do not sound like a pest or
disease to me.

I don't have this particular hybrid palo verde, but I've
noticed palo verdes in general have small "cuts" that
occur naturally in the bark. If the tree is especially
well-watered sap will even ooze out of these "cuts".

You mentioned prunnig and I wonder if that is causing
some stress for the tree. Generally, native trees are not
pruned at all for the first few years after they are
planted. When they are pruned, remove dead wood
and crossing branches. Pruning is stressful to trees.

Linda Drew, Master Gardener

Here is a more complete response from a professional:

There is some differences of opinion among authors as to when the best time
is to prune desert adapted trees. Eric Johnson in his " Pruning, Planting 
and
Care " recommends pruning Cercidium species in winter, whereas Mary Irish,
respected author of several books covering desert plants and trees, and well
known speaker recommends pruning desert legume trees in warm weather saying
that winter pruning will cause limb dieback and more chance of infection. I
tend to favor Mary Irish's advice because of her tremendous experience with
desert plants and trees while at Desert Botanical Garden.
As a Master Gardener, Arborist and professional landscape maintenance
supervisor I have been required to prune desert trees at all times of year
without losing a tree from pruning.
Just do not prune more than 15% at one time or more than 30% in one year.
Check out the Master Gardener Manual chapter on Arborculture, section on
pruning for more info, and available on line at:
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/arboriculture/index.html

Good luck.

Rod McKusick
Master Gardener and Arborist

>From: "L K ROBINSON" <WOODSTUFF2 at msn.com>
>To: <arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu>
>Subject: [Arid_gardener] Palo Verde - sap oozing
>Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 17:07:21 -0700
>
>9 months ago we bought a "Mesa Verde" tree that was a good size healthy 
>looking tree.  It has a straight trunk that was explained to us as a hybred 
>palo verde.  The top of the tree has been growing and looks very healthy.  
>We have pruned it back several times already.  However yesterday I took a 
>close look at the bark around the area where the branched branch off.  
>There are many gashes in the bark that look like they were caused by a saw. 
>  They are tiny and straight lines.  There are many cuts in the bark in 
>that area of the tree.  It appears something cut into the bark.  My husband 
>then noticed a little amount of sap running down the tree.  Do we have some 
>sort of pest eating away at our tree?  Or could it be some sort of disease? 
>  I have read all I can find about the trees, but nothing mentions these 
>cuts.  Please help.
>
>Kathy
>_______________________________________________
>Arid_gardener mailing list
>Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
>http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener

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