Tree Shedding Bark/Oozing Sap

[davidl83]

I recently moved in to a new house in the SF Bay Area (East Bay). A medium size tree in the backyard has been shedding bark and is oozing sap, and I’m wondering if there is anything I should be worried about or anything I should do. Here are some photos. I’m not sure what kind of tree it is and have included photos of it before it dropped its leaves. Thanks for your help!!!

 

[old CB]

It's an elm, probably Siberian elm. It seems pretty healthy from what I can see. Nothing I'd be terribly concerned about.

It has been pruned over the years. Doesn't look like the best pruning in the world, but pruning is not my forte.

 

[ATH]

Yeah...Siberian elm. The bark falling off = dead branches. It was topped in the past. That is a bad practice - done by either somebody who doesn't know what they are doing or are intentionally destroying the tree.

These trees are prone to failure anyhow....and moreso when they are topped. It would be good to have an onsite evaluation by a qualified arborist.

The sap is bacterial slime wetwood or slime flux:
https://extension.psu.edu/bacterial-wetwood-or-slime-flux

 

[billyboy]

I agree with ATH, get an arborist in to inspect. To do that kind of trim up top is dumb. It was time to take it down and start over. There are a number of spots that could have dry rot half way through the tree. Elms are notorious for this. People need to look more carefully at what they are planting regards eventual height and girth. Elm are capable of reaching 80 feet with a 60 foot girth. Good luck with it.