I have a 16 year old yellow wood tree that had blossoms for the first time last year. I’ve noticed it is dripping a lot of sap this week.(the squirrels are going crazy licking the branches).I don’t recall this happening in previous years.
Is this something I should be concerned about?
This is a beautiful tree to have, and a good way to diversify the urban forest in Toronto.
Although the bleeding sap looks scary, it will do no serious harm. The yellowwood tree (Cladrastis kentuckea) should only be pruned in the summer because any cuts made in winter or spring will bleed like this when the sap starts rising in the spring. If there was no pruning, then you might want to inspect the tree for winter storm damage; perhaps some branches were broken.