TIL maple trees can bleed sap for days if you prune too early in the season

I cut a big limb off a sugar maple in my yard back in late February last year, and it dripped sap for like four straight days before I finally slapped some pruning sealer on it. Has anyone else had a tree just refuse to stop weeping like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

hollyg591mo agoMost Upvoted

Oh come on, it's just sap. The tree will be fine, it's not like it's bleeding to death.

hart.mark1mo ago

Never really thought about it that way but you're totally right. I always figured sap was like a tree's lifeblood or something, that it would hurt them if it leaked out too much. But now that you say it, it's just sticky water basically, trees make a ton of it and it's not like they're bleeding out. Changed my whole view on those maple trees in my yard, I used to freak out seeing a little drip.

terry_thomas18d ago

Wait, hold up. You used to freak out over a little drip? Like full on panic mode? (laughing but also kind of amazed) I'm just picturing you running outside with a band-aid and a little splint for your maple tree. That's honestly the most wholesome thing I've heard all week. I bet your neighbors thought you were running a tiny tree hospital or something.