California juniper weeping Sap

Horticulture
1

This beautiful California Juniper seems to have a wound that is using sap. I scraped back a little bit of the dead bark and put cut paste but it’s still coming out from one Small spot. What could be the cause?

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My first guess is a borer. I’d investigate deeper into the wound, covering it with cut paste probably won’t resolve the problem.

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4

My guess would also be a borer. You should watch the clip on removing borers. It is long slow process but it not only saves junipers, it also makes them look amazing.

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I agree with the other replies, a borer. It need to be sorted at the earliest so it doesn’t damage such a nice tree. Hopefully it hasn’t done too much damage already. Fingers crossed for you.

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The consensus seems to be a borer. I have done a careful dissection of the area with a small razor blade and have not found a physical insect. It’s possible the insect has already left or it’s also possible I cut it up accidentally with the razor blade. Does anyone have alternative hypothesis other than a borer? Just so I can consider all the possibilities. Also if it is a borer, what about spraying a small amount of permethrin on the area topically after dissection? This would help kill an insect I might have missed and also kill any larvae I didn’t find.

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The consensus seems to be a borer. I have done a careful dissection of the area with a small razor blade and have not found a physical insect. It’s possible the insect has already left or it’s also possible I cut it up accidentally with the razor blade. Does anyone have alternative hypothesis other than a borer? Just so I can consider all the possibilities. Also if it is a borer, what about spraying a small amount of permethrin on the area topically after dissection? This would help kill an insect I might have missed and also kill any larvae I didn’t find.

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Hi Blake, I’ve tried to look at the photos close up. It does look like there’s some sap leaking from the heavily wired branch on the right (the first above the major angle change). I may be wrong. If it is have you broken the shoulder of the branch when it was wired? Or could it be another entrance (or exit) wound for a borer?