Bacterial Wetwood – Slime Flux

Have you ever noticed the trunk of your tree is wet when it hasn’t been raining, possibly accompanied by the foul smell of fermentation? If this seepage is bubbling and dripping from a union or wound, your tree might have Bacterial Wetwood, or Slime Flux, a bacterial infection. Most of the time this will occur in small areas of your tree, putting off an odor that brings all the bees to the yard, mostly large wasps but also all types of insects. This infection is typically not a concern as long as it’s just a small area, but over time it can spread and affect the overall vigor of the tree.

Bacterial Wetwood is a disease in the core of the tree, common in many deciduous trees in the Richmond area. The bacteria is found in water and soil, and could enter the tree through wounds when the tree is very young. Over time, the tree can create radial cracks that the liquid can use as an avenue to travel to the outer layers of the tree. Toxic to the cambium, wetwood can disrupt the normal functions of a tree; wound wood cannot develop after a pruning cut, shoots cannot grow, and wounds on the tree can be infected from the dripping, oozing liquid. Internal infection develops gasses that cause high pressure, forcing the liquid infection out of the tree. Once the bacteria gets into the outer layer of the tree and in the cambium, it can result in cankers and tissue death on the trunk.

What can you do about this infection? I recommend just monitoring the progress and possibly having an arborist come perform an annual assessment of the tree. At an advanced state, or when the bacterial infection has covered enough of the trunk of the tree, an arborist may suggest removal before it begins a decline in the canopy. It can be recommended to use fertilization to stimulate vigorous growth to combat the decline, though a healthy tree should not need support. The best solution is to make sure the tree has an adequate mulch ring, plenty of water in the warm/dry months and has a regular professional assessment.