I noticed this tree while visiting Park Road Park, in south Charlotte. I noticed all the blackness on the trunk, and decided to take a closer look. I was expecting to find the tree’s trunk covered with bark scale. As I got closer, I realized the tree was riddled with holes. Sapsuckers have been feasting on the sap lying just below the bark. The blackness on the trunk is “sooty mold” that is growing on the sap oozing from the wounds. If you have trees in your landscape that have this similar condition, give Shrub Doctor a call. We’ll give you a free evaluation, and let you know what can be done to resolve the issue. Call Shrub Doctor at 704-920-0290, or email Mark Tally (The Shrub Doctor) at mark@shrubdoctor.com
For further information on sapsucker damage, view our page under “abiotic disorders” on this blog.
