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Maple tree in trouble
Mike Hamilton
Posts: 82
Location: north end of the Keweenaw Mi.
posted 2 years ago
one of our sugar maples has 1/4'' holes threw the bark and sap is running out the holes.
there has to be several dozen holes and they are in a horizontal line around different limbs.
older holes has killed the limbs their on.
so whats going on ''bug infestation'',''wood pecker damage'',,,,I am at a total loss.
its looking like the tree is heading for the next hugel bed if this keeps up.
Mike
there has to be several dozen holes and they are in a horizontal line around different limbs.
older holes has killed the limbs their on.
so whats going on ''bug infestation'',''wood pecker damage'',,,,I am at a total loss.
its looking like the tree is heading for the next hugel bed if this keeps up.
Mike
Michael Newby
gardener
Posts: 697
Location: Mount Shasta, CA Zone 8a Mediterranean climate
134
posted 2 years ago
If the holes are all evenly spaced and in horizontal lines like you mentioned you've just described classic sap-sucker type bird damage - the birds peck a little hole into the bark in order to "tap" the tree and get at that delicious sap. Once the tree reacts and stops the wound from weeping the bird moves over a step and starts another hole. If there's enough of the holes an entire patch of bark will die, or even worse, if they ring the tree usually everything above the ring is a goner.
"Instead of Pay It Forward I prefer Plant It Forward" ~Howard Story / "God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools." ~John Muir
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Mike Hamilton
Posts: 82
Location: north end of the Keweenaw Mi.
posted 2 years ago
you are spot on with this answer
my wife found this on line tonight
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/sapsucker_feeding_habits_benefit_overall_forest_ecology
this is exactly what is doing this
the damage is bad so the one tree will go into the hugle bed
thank you for the response
Mike
Michael Newby wrote:If the holes are all evenly spaced and in horizontal lines like you mentioned you've just described classic sap-sucker type bird damage - the birds peck a little hole into the bark in order to "tap" the tree and get at that delicious sap. Once the tree reacts and stops the wound from weeping the bird moves over a step and starts another hole. If there's enough of the holes an entire patch of bark will die, or even worse, if they ring the tree usually everything above the ring is a goner.
you are spot on with this answer
my wife found this on line tonight
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/sapsucker_feeding_habits_benefit_overall_forest_ecology
this is exactly what is doing this
the damage is bad so the one tree will go into the hugle bed
thank you for the response
Mike
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