what is this black ooze?

[AAA TREE]

Few questions
What is this
What causes this
Can you treat it with something
The tree is a water oak I believe
Thanks

 

[SWIFTYCLMBR]

The black is staining from standing water and decayed organic matter inside the inclusion of the codominate leaders. The watery material congeales when it hits the outside air. My guess..

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[easyphloem]

The tree is completely sideways, for starters. So that's a big problem.

I agree with Swifty that it looks like staining from organic material that is collected in that super tight angled main branch union.
I'm sure that this tree is cabled, and if it isn't, it should be. Make sure you are up to date on the BMPs for cabling and bracing, because you can do more harm than good by doing cabling wrong.

SZ

 

[easyphloem]

Also, "AAA Tree"?

Is this a yellow pages thing?

Have you considered "Acme Tree"? It has a more authentic ring to it, and it still gets you right up there in the yellow pages (lol)


SZ

 

[KTSmith]

That is commonly referred to as "slime flux" associated with bacterial wetwood, a condition resulting from the infection of heartwood with anaerobic bacteria (bacteria whose respiration does not require oxygen). The products of that respiration includes methane that forces the products of respiration out of the tree. The respiration products are somewhat alkaline (the opposite of acidic) that discourages the establishment and spread of wood decay fungi. Although objectionable in appearance to some, this is a beneficial infection in the sense that it resists the decay fungi. These infections are the source of that stinky smell in oak and beech. No, there is nothing to be done about it, at least as far as I know. In the old days, oldtimers would but in brass drainage tubes that only served to aerate the tree core and encourage decay.

 

[cerviarborist]

The tree has codominant stems, with a bark inclusion between them. It looks as though the inclusion holds water, which slowly seeps out and causes the staining on the trunk below the union and inclusion. This staining in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, and since it drew your attention to the real problem of the codominant stem and included bark, it might have actually done you a favor.

Treatment options to offset this weak union in the tree can include judicious end weight reduction of foliage at the extreme ends of the stems, The installation of one or more static support cables in the canopy to limit the range of motion the stems experience during dynamic loading conditions, and through bracing above, at and below the point where the stems diverge from each other to directly augment the support of the weak union.

You can purchase the International Society of Arboricultures booklet: Best Management Practices-Tree Support Systems 3rd edition here. http://www.isa-arbor.com/store/product.aspx?ProductID=135

I actually had this all typed out, and the phone blew up before I could send it. I see that the salient points have now been addressed, but I'll throw this in the mix anyway.

 

[AAA TREE]

Thanks for help I'm trying to learn this side of tree work, I've mainly been a removal guy

 

[guymayor]

"The tree has codominant stems, with a bark inclusion between them. It looks as though the inclusion holds water, which slowly seeps out and causes the staining on the trunk below the union and inclusion. This staining in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, and since it drew your attention to the real problem of the codominant stem and included bark, it might have actually done you a favor."

I agree with Richard. this does not look like slime flux or any kind of infection.

"Treatment options to offset this weak union in the tree can include judicious end weight reduction of foliage at the extreme ends of the stems,"
Yes 10-20% off the ends might be good to do, but

"The installation of one or more static support cables in the canopy to limit the range of motion the stems experience during dynamic loading conditions,"
If cabling is done, pruning may not be needed. One is probably enough--can you post a pic of the whole tree?

"and through bracing above, at and below the point where the stems diverge from each other to directly augment the support of the weak union."

Bracing looks excessive and definitely heavy wounding of a decay-prone species. The ISA BMPs are not really international--they copy the US standard which is also dominated by the same group and full of overkill. A much better deal is the German standard. http://www.fll.de/shop/ztv-baumpfle...-terms-and-guidelines-for-tree-care-2007.html

It was put together by scientists not corporations so its information is much more useful. Plus the language is ironically much easier to understand! $22.80 gets you guidance on support systems, pruning, soil work, contracts, etc. in an easy download,

 

[baumeister]

Thanks for help I'm trying to learn this side of tree work, I've mainly been a removal guy

I'm glad your hear learning and sincerely hope you keep it up and broaden your horizons.

Removal guy says 2016
Removal = $1500

Professional says 2016 - 2066
A consultation= $80, Cable= $300, pruning =$ 500, 2 root zone treatments =$800, cable inspection =$80, second round of pruning /deadwood removal =$950, mulching =$200, your clients love and appreciation for your knowledge and expertise, priceless.

" (Tree companies) that do not care about the life of trees are none other than bogus doctors who predominantly kill their patients......... for money."
C.S.

 

[guymayor]

O and you could brush and rinse the ooze off the stem for aesthetic and other reasons.

 

[AAA TREE]

Here is pic of the tree

 

[oldoakman]

I'm with guy on this one. Left side reduction would make a world of difference both structurally and aesthetically.

 

[KTSmith]

I have no basis to quibble or disagree in any way with the practical treatment options above. I am quite confident that the discharge is the result of infection as I describe above. From the tree point of view, I submit that the infection by the bacteria is beneficial. None of this is radical, but pretty well-established forest pathology.

 

[LimbLoppa]

That is commonly referred to as "slime flux" associated with bacterial wetwood, a condition resulting from the infection of heartwood with anaerobic bacteria (bacteria whose respiration does not require oxygen). The products of that respiration includes methane that forces the products of respiration out of the tree. The respiration products are somewhat alkaline (the opposite of acidic) that discourages the establishment and spread of wood decay fungi. Although objectionable in appearance to some, this is a beneficial infection in the sense that it resists the decay fungi. These infections are the source of that stinky smell in oak and beech. No, there is nothing to be done about it, at least as far as I know. In the old days, oldtimers would but in brass drainage tubes that only served to aerate the tree core and encourage decay.

I think you should probably collect some of it and spread it all over your body. If it smells like baby diarrhea then KTS is correct!

 

[Treetopflyer]

Torch it

 

[John_KAYS]

Guy, why don't you think it is Slime flux? That's what I thought it might be. Is it not frothy enough? It looks pretty typical of wetwood...

 

[guymayor]

No telling if bacteria are colonizing the area but like Kevin says that's probably not real bad for the tree. I would not call it good because there's a lot more to consider than the Demon of Fungal Decay, which is so overblown these days. The inclusion is the issue, but reducing load would mitigate that.

John, the term 'slime flux' is like 'pin oak'; it means too many things to be all that useful imo.

If it was frothy then it would be frothy flux; a different beast altogether. Cleaning loose crud and gunk out of the fork and sounding the area might reveal more about the situation.