Is my Scots pine sick?

Diggumsmack2

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Collected just about 1 year ago, my tree has a oozy white spot that has never really changed from first acquisition.

Anybody have any ideas what it could be? If so do I need to remedy it or will the tree be okay?
 

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TomB

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The white bit looks like dried resin, but the fact that there's still what looks like fresh resin (sap) oozing after a year is a bit of a concern - it indicates that the wound there has not callused over, and there is something damaging the tree at that point. Might be worth inspecting closely to check for mechanical damage / burrowing insects etc.
If the resin is actually hard all over, but just looks wet in the photo, then it's not a problem and it will flake off eventually.
 

Wires_Guy_wires

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Resin can stay moldable for quite some time. It's liquid but super viscous. If the tree hasn't experienced the heat of the sun, then it'll stay in place up to a year or five. Solar heat melts it and the wood on the bark will draw it in like a sponge.
If it hasn't changed in a year time, then it's probably not actively secreting/oozing. Inspecting it up close is a good idea.

You can dap it with a sponge you've dipped in turpentine, and it'll dissolve slowly. Just make sure the sponge is slightly damp with turpentine and doesn't drip. Turpentine originates from pine resin, but the roots don't like organic solvents. So make sure you don't allow any turpentine to hit the soil. Some paper towels stacked in layers can help you prevent that. Other solvents will work too, but they can also do more damage. Best to just use the heat of the sun next summer. At 30 degrees C it'll become as soft as hair wax.
 

Shogun610

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I’d get a thin piece of wire and stick it in that crack just to make sure there aren’t any borer larvae in there.
 

August44

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Borer...needle in hole works. when sap stops running, borer dead!
 
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