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White Pine Sap

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From: Karen Barth City: Winfield, IL
Last autumn, several lower branches of my white pine tree had to be cut off (cut back at the trunk). They have leached out/dripped white, sticky sappy material down the remainder of the trunk. Is there anything I can do to remove these long white streaks/smears down the trunk of the tree from the sites where the branches were cut off? Thank you.
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
The material you are seeing is pine sap that has dried and crystalized, part of the healing process a pine goes through when a branch has been pruned or the tree damaged by nature. This dried sap is harmless to the bark and trunk of the tree. I am not aware of any product that would remove the white resin. You might try using a soft vegetable brush used for cleaning soil off of the vegetables and using a light pressure, see if the resin comes off without harming the bark.
From: Stan Schrek City: Lake Placid, NY
I have several large Eastern White Pines near my home. One large (estimated 30 yr old) tree is "spraying" a fine mist of sap over my paved driveway. I have never seen this prior to about a month ago. The local bee population is enjoying a feast of this fine sap covering a 10'x 10' area. I considered cutting off the offending branch, but would rather not. Is this a "phase" the tree is going through? We have a had a relatively wet and cool summer in the northeast.
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
A very through examination of the branch in question could reveal pine scale larvae. As the begin to feed on the pine branches and twigs they will drip exudate and it is rather sticky and sweet and source of food for other insects. Over time scale insects can cause decline of the branches. Contact your local extension office for approved products that can be used.
From: Kurtis Johnson City: Lynnwood, WA
try using mayonnaise and a paint brush it is wonderful for getting sap off your hands. It is also very effective at removing engine grease if you are into that sort of thing.
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