Helping a large cherry tree that's bleeding sap

[MikeEdStan]

Hi All,

We've recently moved to a house in the Bristol area, which has a beautiful cherry tree in the garden, however it's stressed, and I want to help/save it. I'm new to Arbtalk - a local tree surgeon recommended I post here to get some good advice. I have attached photos.

I don’t know what type of cherry tree it is (would like to know…waiting to see the leaves) …it’s about 25 feet tall, with a 20-foot crown and near 2-foot trunk diameter. It sits in a sunny spot in a southwest facing garden. It doesn’t look like it’s been pruned in a long time. The lawn slops down lightly towards the house and its roots are prominent across the lawn.

 

My neighbour explained that the previous owner had someone cut 3-4 large branches from the tree a few years ago to allow light into the garden (which upset my neighbour). He says the tree has always looked very healthy, and was surprised when I mentioned my concerns.

Where the branches were removed, black spots have appeared on the cut area, and small boring holes are visible. I’m not sure if the boring is current – no dust is present. The tree has sap in about 10-15 locations around the trunk, from the ground to about 8-10 feet up. 

 

I’m hoping that by viewing the photos, the experts here could provide advice on what I can do to help the tree. We will plan to have it pruned in the summer, however should we do anything else now? try to remove the sap? (does this look like cankers?). 

 

Huge thanks in advance for viewing this and any responses
 

[daltontrees]

Don't remove the sap. It's gum, part of the tree's defences.

[Dan Maynard]

The previous owners have cut off 30-40% of the tree's food (=leaves) in one hit. No wonder it's stressed.

 

Personally I'd leave it be for a year or two, don't start cutting more leaves off till it has chance to get used to that.

[peds]

Now is the perfect time to do this: spread out 2 or 3 layers of brown cardboard under the tree, as far out into the grass as you are willing to go, and cover that with mushroom compost, rotted manure, mauldy auld seaweed, decent compost, anything you can fine. Top it with bark or woodchip if you want a pretty finish. Don't go too close to the trunk. 

 

For extra points, mix a load of biochar into the organic material you mulch it with.

 

Feed the tree, it needs nutritients. 

[MikeEdStan]

Thanks all. This is very helpful. 

 

Peds - I'll get onto giving it nutrients asap - this is exactly what I needed to know. Thanks

 

Is there anything I should be doing to check if the wood borers are active? or is nutrients the best/only way to fix and prevent this too?