Red oak tree black spots, Appears to be weeping from some of these spots - Ask Extension
Have a wood lot that butts up to a ditch. And the road, Along the edge of the ditch Are a dozen or so red oak trees. We have trimmed them in the past...
Knowledgebase
Red oak tree black spots, Appears to be weeping from some of these spots #878412
Asked July 23, 2024, 12:01 PM EDT
Have a wood lot that butts up to a ditch. And the road, Along the edge of the ditch Are a dozen or so red oak trees. We have trimmed them in the past during Their dormant season,
Several times. We need to keep them trimmed back so that the farm. Equipment and semis do not hit the tree limbs. We are Also mow the area
It appears something is happening with these trees now, There are black Spots And some of the larger spots are weeping. AtThis point it's mostly the smaller trees. But I noticed that some of the larger trees are now getting the black spots also. I'm hoping that it was not oak wilt disease, And possibly something less serious, Really do not want to loose Any more trees. Please advise as to what you think it is and what I can do about it.
Saginaw CountyMichigan
Expert Response
Hello, Please attach a couple more photos, close up of the spots and weeping you see. To add pictures, click the link in your email and go into your question on the website.
Click the “Drop files here or choose them” below the response box to attach them.
Thank you for using Ask Extension. A request for support has been created and a representative will follow-up with you as soon as possible. Questions are usually answered within two business days. You can view this question's progress online.
Thank you for using Ask Extension. A request for support has been created and a representative will follow-up with you as soon as possible. Questions are usually answered within two business days. You can view this question's progress online.
Hello, This is definitely not oak wilt, so that's good news! It looks like the bark split or cracked for some reason, and sap is flowing from the cracks. It may be bacterial wetwood, which is a generally harmless issue and one that the tree will recover from. https://site.extension.uga.edu/bartow/old-trees-bleeding-sap/
The black color around the area dripping sap is likely due to a black sooty mold growing on the sugary, nutrient rich sap. This is common for any sap drippings, and shouldn't cause worry.
Best recommendation is to monitor the crowns, or the leaves, of the trees dripping sap to see if anything changes. I'm guessing it will not. And the sap dripping holes/cracks will likely repair themselves in time.
If anything changes with the trees, please do feel free to reach out.
