| I have a peach tree that gets a gummy brown jellylike stuff on the trunk, and the leaves curl up what can be done about it if anything. And the squirrels eat every peach is their a deturent to get them not want the fruit? |
| The oozing sap may be signs of boring insect (Peach Tree Borer), or it could be a disease. External evidence of peach tree borer tunneling is a wet spot on the bark or the presence of oozing, gummy sap. The sap is clear or translucent and often dark from the sawdust-like excrement of the insect. Most injuries occur along the lower trunk beneath the soil line. Lower branches rarely receive injuries. Oozing wounds on peach that produce an amber-colored gum may be caused by cytospora canker, a fungus disease often confused with peach tree borer. The Cytospora fungus attacks trees or parts of trees that are injured or in a weak or stressed condition. It can cause their death. Trees affected by drought, Iisects, defoliation by fungi, sunscald, herbicides, or mechanical injury are susceptible to cytospora infection. You'll need to determine which of these problems might be affecting your tree before you can take control measure. About the only way to keep squirrels from feasting on the fruit is to cover the entire tree with bird netting. Be sure to secure it at the bottom or the squirrels will gain access. Best wishes with your peach tree. |
