Totally NDR - removing White Pine tree Sap from wooden decking

[Steven Alexander]

If it hasn't been suggested already, rent a floor buffer, and use turpentine on it. Then cut the trees down.

 

[Tim Clark]

In no way helping your cause, but your thread reminds me of the trouble other trees cause. Coniferous trees are well known for shedding sap, but in my yard the oaks make a mess. They spit a dark brown sap every year. I don't know exactly what it's caused by, I assume some function of leaf or acorn drop but perhaps it's honeydew from insect infestation. Anyway, the sap rains down in 1/8" droplets that are barely noticeable individually but make a car, boat or trailer look like it's been shot with a load of #9's. Tough as nails to get off.

SJ - that issue sounds like lanternflies. We had the same issue at our place. The problem with the "honeydew" as they call it is it's a perfect breeding ground for a type of mold that, when left for too long or over winter, will fill out every porous material. It took me half a day and a high power pressure washer to get it off of a 20x30 wood deck. I removed the tree in question this year (tree of heaven, known host of the lanternflies) and haven't had any more issues since the lanternflies are no longer over the deck.

As for the pines, as many have said your best option will be to remove them. Dropping sap is normal - think maples running sap in the spring - during spring and fall when the temperatures fluctuate significantly. An arborist will be able to address issues if the trees are stressed from disease, but this will only moderate the issue during the non-shoulder seasons. Come spring/fall you'll always have that dripping sap.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

SJ - that issue sounds like lanternflies. We had the same issue at our place. The problem with the "honeydew" as they call it is it's a perfect breeding ground for a type of mold that, when left for too long or over winter, will fill out every porous material. It took me half a day and a high power pressure washer to get it off of a 20x30 wood deck. I removed the tree in question this year (tree of heaven, known host of the lanternflies) and haven't had any more issues since the lanternflies are no longer over the deck.

As for the pines, as many have said your best option will be to remove them. Dropping sap is normal - think maples running sap in the spring - during spring and fall when the temperatures fluctuate significantly. An arborist will be able to address issues if the trees are stressed from disease, but this will only moderate the issue during the non-shoulder seasons. Come spring/fall you'll always have that dripping sap.

Tim,

Not lanternflies in this case as it's happened every year for almost 40. Possibly gypsy moth caterpillar damage, but it seems to coincide with acorn and leaf drop.

We saw our first lanternflies a couple of weeks ago in one of my employee's yard. For some reason they prefer Beech trees to Ailanthus there, as he has both in close proximity. Many on the Beech, not one on the TOH. What surprised me was how they appear to be aggressive, they zip toward a human when approached. Well camouflaged on the tree trunk but quite colorful in flight.