Question
QUESTION: We have a live oak tree in Charleston, SC. It has suddenly begun dripping a thick sap-like substance. The drips vary from very tiny to about an inch in diameter and harden so that they are very difficult to remove from our car. The branches and leaves of the tree are so high up that we cannot get a specimen. It has not done this in the 4 years we have owned the house. What do you think is going on? Thank you so much for your time and expertise.
ANSWER: If the sap is sticky it sounds like either an insect called an aphid or a scale insect. Both suck the plant juice from the foliage and twigs and secrete a substance called honeydew which is high in sugar content and sticky. Control the sucking insects and the sap will stop dripping. Apply an insecticide to the soil around the tree. Treat with an insecticide called Bayer Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect control. The roots will absorb the insecticide and transport it to the foliage and when the insect suck the plant juice they are killed. Check with your local nursery for this insecticide. Here is a web link to more information on this product. http://www.bayeradvanced.com/product/Tree-Shrub-Insect-Control/concentrate.html
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QUESTION: Is there a particular time of year that would be better to do this treatment? How long before we should expect it to take effect? Thank you again.
Answer
Since live oaks keeps their leaves all winter it will have some transporting action through the cooler months. Since you are in a warmer part of the US and the weather is still warm and the grass is growing and green I would go ahead and treat now. It will take a couple of weeks to get the insecticide to all parts of the tree if the tree is large. May want to treat again next spring as the roots will be taking up a lot of minerals then since the new growth will be coning onto the tree. The best time would be the spring BUT until then you may still have the sap. I would go ahead and treat now.
