The balls of hardened sap coming out of this cherry tree look like gummosis, a protective response to an annoying insect. (Special at the Democrat-Gazette)
Tree reacts to damage
Q: These clear, hard bubbles formed from the secretions of a few of my wild cherry trees. [The reader sent photos.] Do you think it’s heat related or an indication of the tree’s impending destruction? Do other readers have similar experiences?
A: The clear bubbles you see on your black cherry are called gummosis – a response of many fruit trees to any injury or disturbance. Since it’s small and round, I guess it’s an answer to an annoying bug. Any wound or opening on the bark of a cherry tree can cause gummosis to appear.
Print Headline: In the Garden: Tree Damage and Lawn Repair