Daily Kitten Chat Forum » General Chat

1. 

   If so, I have a couple of questions for you.

   My big China Berry tree - which is at least 35-40 years old has been raining down sap for the last couple of months. It is a steady rain of sap that covers everything. The ground is even sticky with it. I have always parked my car under this tree, and this is the first time I have ever noticed this. It is so bad that I have to wash my windshield every day when I drive my car. The sap is so strong that the windshield wipers get stuck to the windshield. If the windows are down then they get stuck in place and it takes a little effort to get them to move. When we walk under the tree the china berries that are on the ground - along with any sticks, leaves or other debris - stick to our shoes like glue.

   Has this ever happened to anybody else who has one of these trees? And if so, any idea what is causing it?

   I should also point out that this is also the first year that I have noticed birds eating the china berries (I didn't think any animal could eat them as they are poisonous).

   Posted 2 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #

2. 

   A quick read about china berry trees says they are short lived trees. So if yours is 35-40 years old, I'd suspect it is a tree showing its age, possibly even dying. Apparently it is considered an invasive species that is difficult to eradicate and keep from spreading. All parts of the tree are poisonous to humans and mammals but birds are able to eat the fruit, although if they eat enough they become drunk and/or paralyzed.

   Keep in mind that tree sap is very corrosive to the paint on cars. You may want to park away from the tree from now on.

   Posted 2 years ago by Marnet #

3. 

   Your tree may have boring insects or woodpeckers are damaging branches. Since it is old, it is likely weakened by insects. The holes left by the borers are a path for the sap to leak.

   Other causes would be broken branches.

   Posted 2 years ago by ailuromaniac #

4. 

   Thanks for the replies.

   I know that this tree is poisonous - but the berries make great ammunition. There have been China Berry fights at this house for as long as I can remember!

   The tree is pretty much healthy except for the rain - which I have just found out isn't sap. The suggestion of boring insects made me take a closer look at one of the higher branches and I found the problem -- aphids.

   I read up on the subject and found that what is raining down is not sap like I first thought, but rather secretions from the aphids who are drinking the sap.

   We are now looking into safe ways of getting rid of the aphids.

   Posted 2 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #

5. 

   You plant garlic and onions in your rose gardens to discourage aphids. Perhaps feeding the tree with garlic powder would help.

   Posted 2 years ago by ailuromaniac #

6. 

   Dish soap--particularly Joy--is toxic to aphids. If you have a way of spraying the tree with a mixture of 1/4 cup soap to 2 gallons of water, that would probably take care of the problem. You may have to do it more than once. A strong stream of water will also dislodge them (like from a garden hose with a good nozzle on it). This is particularly useful for areas you can't reach.

   Posted 2 years ago by Shelley #

7. 

   Thanks Shelley, I have one in my yard too, but it is on city property so I can't get rid of it...I hate the sap too!

   Posted 2 years ago by 2bpurring #

8. 

   The city planted a lovely row of Maple trees on my Aunt's block. My Aunt did not want the tree in front of her house planted where the city placed it. She generously feed and watered the tree and reported that it was not doing well to the parks department on several occasions and also when it died she reported that they needed to remove the dead tree.

   BTW the plant food she fed it via a deep root delivery method was a mixture of Weed'b'Gon and Salt.

   Posted 2 years ago by ailuromaniac #

9. 

   LOL...I have done simillar things to city planted trees that I didn't want but not quite as a "for sure" cure! Unfortantly this huge sappy thing is likely about 30-40 yrs old and if it dies and falls it will take out several cars and possibly part of the house!

   Posted 2 years ago by 2bpurring #

10. 

    Thanks for the advice Shelly. We are going to try the dish soap method this weekend. I have one of those Mr. Clean car washers that will be perfect for dispensing the dish soap and squirting it up in the tree. My roommate has said he will climb up in the tree with the hose to reach the higher branches - I am hoping this is not a bad idea with the slippery dish soap running down the branches...

    Posted 2 years ago by owlwatcher_974 #

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