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lucamon
LIF Adult
Member since 6/09 1133 total posts
Name:
Samantha
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What is the cause of this TREE DAMAGE?
Can you identify the cause of this damage? Originally we thought it was from beetles but someone told me it could be from a woodpecker because of the pattern. If it was from a beetle the holes would be more random. What is it and how can I treat it? A lot of the pine needles have fallen off. I hope the damage is not beyond repair. We love this tree and would hate to see it go.    
Message edited 8/12/2009 9:53:26 PM.
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Posted 8/12/09 9:52 PM  |
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MrsJ
I love my Katie Bug
Member since 5/05 11357 total posts
Name:
Kathy
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Re: What is the cause of this TREE DAMAGE?
it looks like a woodpecker got to it
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| Posted 8/12/09 10:02 PM |
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dajc23
My Loves :)
Member since 1/09 4980 total posts
Name:
Dana
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Re: What is the cause of this TREE DAMAGE?
I showed DH and the first thing he said was either a woodpecker or maybe even carpenter ants or termites. But the pattern in the holes leads me to believe woodpecker too.
I did some research and I saw those birds make those holes in that order
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| Posted 8/12/09 10:03 PM |
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lucamon
LIF Adult
Member since 6/09 1133 total posts
Name:
Samantha
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Re: What is the cause of this TREE DAMAGE?
Posted by Baby09
I showed DH and the first thing he said was either a woodpecker or maybe even carpenter ants or termites. But the pattern in the holes leads me to believe woodpecker too.
I did some research and I saw those birds make those holes in that order
What can we do to help it? The holes are all over the trunk of the tree for as far as I can see. I don't want to lose the tree. The needles keep falling. Is it going to die?
ETA: I thought termites don't target living trees. I could be wrong but that's what I thought.
Message edited 8/12/2009 10:11:49 PM.
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| Posted 8/12/09 10:09 PM |
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ChrisDee
My Girls
Member since 11/06 9543 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: What is the cause of this TREE DAMAGE?
I found this for you
http://forestry.about.com/od/foresthealth/p/woodpecker.htm
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| Posted 8/12/09 10:31 PM |
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lucamon
LIF Adult
Member since 6/09 1133 total posts
Name:
Samantha
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Re: What is the cause of this TREE DAMAGE?
Thank you!! This is very helpful. Now I just have to figure out if it's a sapsucker or insect eater.
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| Posted 8/12/09 10:40 PM |
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greenfreak
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Member since 9/06 11483 total posts
Name:
greenfreak
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Re: What is the cause of this TREE DAMAGE?
The woodpeckers I see most often in my backyard are the Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker and the Northern Flicker. I did see a Yellow Sapsucker, but only once.
In addition to wrapping the trunk, you could also supply an alternative food source for it closeby, since it's possible it will come back and look for more food in the same area.
I know it's gross, and I'm not sure which birds eat them, but you can actually buy the insects that they are looking for in those trees and setup a feeder.
I had these healed holes on an American Holly tree I have and the tree looks pretty good now.
Is it possible that the woodpecker holes are merely a symptom and not the main problem? They are attracted to dead wood and if the tree was already stressed, there might be another problem. I would call a tree company that has an arborist on staff (Treesaregood.com has a search you can do) and see if they do free estimates. I know mine did, and there were problems I thought were dire on a couple of trees but they discouraged me from cutting them down. We worked on babying them in the meantime. They're all pretty happy now. 
Last thing I'm going to say... We had a lot of problems this year with things that stemmed from the unusual amount of rain we had. Fungal diseases, mildews and molds, mushrooms, etc. It might be something to consider with this tree.
Good luck!!
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| Posted 8/13/09 7:46 AM |
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Cpt2007
A new love!
Member since 1/08 5946 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: What is the cause of this TREE DAMAGE?
Posted by greenfreak
Is it possible that the woodpecker holes are merely a symptom and not the main problem? They are attracted to dead wood and if the tree was already stressed, there might be another problem. I would call a tree company that has an arborist on staff (Treesaregood.com has a search you can do) and see if they do free estimates.
Agreed. Woodpeckers are attracted to trees that already have bugs in them. They peck through the bark to get to the insects. I'd definitely recommend having an arborist come out to look at the tree.
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| Posted 8/13/09 8:24 AM |
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