Smelly Oak ooze!?

[Beezy]

Dear All

 

I visited a client today who had a mature Oak tree at the foot of her garden with a pretty mature compost heap below the tree, she was complaining about an ooze or exudation from the main stem.

 

The tree was in generally satisfactory condition, a few minor branch failure wounds in the upper canopy, and minor deadwood, all to be expected.

 

Although at approx. 2m on the main stem, there was evidence of bark de-lamination and a oozing down the main stem which was a creamy/clear thick liquid with a pungent vinegar smell, similar to rotting/fermenting fruit.

 

It was alive with wasps, hornets and butterflies visiting the ooze, and some hornets appeared to be disappearing behind the bark.

 

Although on a 'careful' probe test! the bark delaminated and there was no decay into the heartwood, from what I could see.

 

Any thoughts on what this exudation is?? it's got me baffled!

 

Many thanks in advance

Beezy

[David Humphries]

Slime flux, bacterial wetwood

 

 

 

 

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[treeseer]

Slime flux, bacterial wetwood

 

 

 

 

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This variant of slime flux is termed 'frothy flux' in the US. Different in host range, location in tree, and treatment protocols. Attached from 2004; since then cauterisation with blowtorch on active spots has been added to the treatments, and drench w minerals such as phosphite, and more aggressive soil works per need.

Ooze in the News from TCI Magazine 09-04.pdf