Q. I have two Palo Verde trees in front of my
house. One seems to be fine while the other has struggled for four years. I am
told the tree is healthy but every summer it leaks white, sticky foam from the
trunk. This foam attracts bees and beetles. The tree has received professional
borer treatments twice a year but it’s still bad.
 |
| Foam coming from trees that attract flies and other insects are a good sign of slime flux or wetwood disease. |
A. Save your money. This is not an insect
problem. It is a disease problem but a disease that will not kill the tree. Let
me explain.
problem. It is a disease problem but a disease that will not kill the tree. Let
me explain.
You
mentioned bees and beetles are attracted to this foam. I am 99% sure, based on
the picture you sent and your description, this is a disease called slime flux,
sometimes called bacterial wetwood. It is a nonlethal disease to the tree. It attacks
only dead or dying wood inside the core of the tree.
mentioned bees and beetles are attracted to this foam. I am 99% sure, based on
the picture you sent and your description, this is a disease called slime flux,
sometimes called bacterial wetwood. It is a nonlethal disease to the tree. It attacks
only dead or dying wood inside the core of the tree.
Nonliving
wood inside the tree cannot fight off disease microorganisms because it is
dead. The only microorganisms which feed on this wood are “saprophytes”.
Similar microorganisms feed in compost piles and convert raw waste into
compost.
wood inside the tree cannot fight off disease microorganisms because it is
dead. The only microorganisms which feed on this wood are “saprophytes”.
Similar microorganisms feed in compost piles and convert raw waste into
compost.
These
microorganisms do not feed on living parts of the tree because living parts of
healthy trees can “fight back”. Bacteria involved with slime flux create a foam
with a characteristic smell of fermenting yeast or brewing beer. This
“yeasty” smell attracts flies, bees and other insects such as beetles
because this smell resembles rotting or fermenting fruit.
microorganisms do not feed on living parts of the tree because living parts of
healthy trees can “fight back”. Bacteria involved with slime flux create a foam
with a characteristic smell of fermenting yeast or brewing beer. This
“yeasty” smell attracts flies, bees and other insects such as beetles
because this smell resembles rotting or fermenting fruit.
Normally,
this disease bothers us because of these insects and its general “ugliness”. It
does not hurt the tree. It may bother us because the foam dripping down the
trunk of the tree causes discoloration of the trunk and unsightliness.
this disease bothers us because of these insects and its general “ugliness”. It
does not hurt the tree. It may bother us because the foam dripping down the
trunk of the tree causes discoloration of the trunk and unsightliness.
Probably
this infection was transferred to this tree by unsanitary pruning practices. I always
emphasize sanitizing and sharpening pruning equipment. When a tree is infected
with a disease, it is extremely important to sanitize the pruning equipment
before pruning a new tree. There is no cure for this problem. You
and the tree must live with it.
this infection was transferred to this tree by unsanitary pruning practices. I always
emphasize sanitizing and sharpening pruning equipment. When a tree is infected
with a disease, it is extremely important to sanitize the pruning equipment
before pruning a new tree. There is no cure for this problem. You
and the tree must live with it.
Some
arborists may drill a hole into the tree trunk and insert a metal tube just below
the foam and sticks out of the trunk. This foam drains inside the tube and
drips to the ground without touching the trunk. Make sure any tools and
equipment which touches the inside of the tree has been sanitized thoroughly.
arborists may drill a hole into the tree trunk and insert a metal tube just below
the foam and sticks out of the trunk. This foam drains inside the tube and
drips to the ground without touching the trunk. Make sure any tools and
equipment which touches the inside of the tree has been sanitized thoroughly.