Did I hurt my pine tree?

[Dizzy Wizard]

We live in North Texas, and we have a wonderful big backyard with 6 big pine trees.

My problem is that I did something foolish, and I want to find out if anyone knows if I hurt this pine tree, and if there is anything I can do about it if I did...

I hammered about 4 very large nails, in order to attach something to the tree at a height of about 7 feet or so.
(I think they were "10 penny" nails, maybe? About 6 to 8 inches long or so.) I hammered them in there pretty deep. The tree has leaked a large amount of sap, some of which has turned white.

Other than apologizing to the tree, is there anything I can do?

[Newt]

Hi Dizzy,

Glad to hear that you have or will apologize to your tree. People hammer nails into trees all the time and most survive just fine. I suspect you have white pines, as their sap turns white over time. At the bottom of the page at this site.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry/.../pinewhite.htm

"Sap drippings from the bark are often a common sight and turn white upon exposure to air."

You will need to watch for other pests from time to time as piercing the bark can leave an opening for pests. Once the tree bark grows and surrounds the nails there should be no problem.
http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entom...rees/ef412.htm

Newt

[Dizzy Wizard]

Ok, Thanks, Newt.

I didn't know. We are newbies to home-ownership and gardening in general. After 2 years have learned a few things, but still far to go.

Actually, we have a real problem with ants. Should I spray the tree to protect it, now that it is "wounded?"

Is there any fertilizer, or extra watering I should do?

DW

[Newt]

Hi DW,

Don't fret about not knowing. I've been gardening for years, 16 of which have been serious, and I learn something new all the time! :) Besides, folks not knowing the answers to everything keeps these forums going.

One rule of gardening is NOT to fertilize a stressed plant or tree. Support is what is needed and usually that can be done with organic measures like compost and compost tea. Take a look here for sick tree treatment and do what you can. It shouldn't need any more water than the others next to it.
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=130

What I did read is that you have ants. If the ants are on the tree then that indicates another problem of what is going on. It's probably not the ants that are the problem, but what they are after, unless you see them going from the tree to your house. If that's the case, you may have carpenter ants. I had the same problem with an old cherry tree. The ants marched off the tree and into my rafters! Ants harvest honeydew from aphids. It's what comes out the back end of the aphid after it happily sucks the goodness out of your tree. There are different types of aphids and you will need to id which you have from that site I gave you. If you can't seem to find them, then it's not the wooly ones as they are easier to spot. If you get rid of the aphids, which are what will hurt the tree, then the ants will go elsewhere for food. Isn't mother nature interesting? :o
http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/en.../carpants.html

Look for pine bark adelgids or pine aphids. I DO NOT RECOMMEND the toxic stuff at that site I gave you last time,
http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/Entom...rees/ef412.htm

but instead try one of these environmentally solutions based on what you find. You can use one of these that have oil in them if horticultural oil is recommended.
http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=6

I'm going to visit my daughter this evening and won't be back until Sunday afternoon. So if I don't respond to any more questions until then you will know why. Don't hesitate to ask more questions if this isn't clear to you or you observe something else going on.

Newt