i have a sweet gum tree that was planted approx. 6 weeks ago. container grown and planted by landscapers. the bark is now showing small black spots that weep a dark substance,, i suppose sap and oily patches...these are about 2 1/2 feet above the ground. any ideas? the landscaper has no idea, neither did two area nursery people. no one has been out to see it. PLEASE help me diagnose and heal my tree.

tbarker

Check out the spots. Are they holes? In a nice neat row or rows, such as what a sapsucker would do? Are they borer holes?

If it were mine, I'd try cleaning the wounds with peroxide, spraying the tree with natural foiliar feed that included garlic pepper tea and then use tree trunk goop.

All the formulas are posted in the forum above.

_________________
Shepherd of the Trees
It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields we know so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.

The tree trunk goop and foliar feed concentrates can be bought at most organic nurseries if you're not up to spending the time, or don't have access to the ingredients, needed to make your own. Garlic pepper tea is easier to do yourself but it can be be bought as well.

~Dave

thanks for your reply. i don't know what sapsucker holes look like but the spots are not in any pattern, not around the circumference but randomly scattered. same with the oily spots.
i don't know what borer holes look like, but these don't look like holes but spots are the size of a peppercorn. hope this was helpful and thanks again.