Something is running down my trunk — sap, or dark wet streaks in Lawrence, Indiana — what should I do?

Something is running down my trunk — sap, or dark wet streaks in Lawrence

What is coming out tells you most of it. A wet, dark, slimy streak running down from a crack, an old pruning wound, or a branch crotch, drying gray or tan, sometimes smelling sour or fermented, with flies and wasps working it. White or tan foam bubbling out of the bark in hot weather. Clear sticky sap or amber blobs, especially with sawdust-like frass or a hole at the center. Dark rusty, oily-looking streaks running down from a sunken area of bark, where cutting the bark shows reddish-brown discolored tissue underneath. Note the location too: from the root flare, from a wound, or from apparently nowhere.

Within weeks

61 crews near Lawrence · Free estimate · No obligation

Fluid leaving a trunk means internal pressure plus a path out, and what it means depends entirely on which of the above you have. Bacterial wetwood, or slime flux, is a chronic fermentation in the heartwood that builds gas pressure and pushes liquid out through any opening — unsightly, hard on the grass it runs onto, essentially untreatable, and carried by many trees for decades without decline. It is not a reason to remove a tree. Alcoholic or foamy flux is a seasonal yeast fermentation in stressed sapwood and usually passes. Sap with frass means an insect is inside. Dark bleeding from a sunken canker means an active pathogen is killing bark and cambium, and that one carries a real prognosis. Two of the four are essentially cosmetic; two are not.

What this usually costs in Lawrence

This is normally a hazardous tree removal job, which around here runs $800 to $5,000 depending on size and access. Treat that as a range, not a quote — nobody can price it without seeing it.

What to have ready when they call

A photo with the house in frame, so they can judge the scale
Roughly how far it is from the house, the fence or the drive
Whether a truck can get into the yard
Whether there are power lines anywhere near it

Crews near Lawrence

Sorted by distance

Where this comes from. 61 real tree services Google lists as operating here. Ratings, review counts, hours and photos are Google’s, not ours. The quote on each card is that company’s review closest to its own average — not its best one.

Photo author: R&C Tree And Landscaping

R&C Tree

8323 E 46th St, Indianapolis, IN 46226

5.072

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“R&C Tree And Landscaping has given me a usable yard again. After having been a caregiver for 15 years, I had lost the bulk of my usable yard. The…”
M Wilcher · a year ago · Google

DC Tree Services LLC

Lot 342, 5135 N Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46226

5.0127

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“I had an excellent experience with DC Tree Service in Indianapolis, Indiana. They completed a tree service project at my property, and the results…”
Juan Alvaro · a month ago · Google

Williams Tree Service LLC

4015 Villard Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46226

4.8139

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“William Tree Service did an outstanding job at my home. They trimmed several old silver maples along with other trees throughout my yard, and the…”
Louis Somlai · 4 months ago · Google

Hoosier Elite Tree Services

9618 Pepperidge Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46235

5.074

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“Saw an ad on Instagram and didn’t expect much, but boy was I wrong! I was immediately contacted and put on the schedule at my earliest convenience…”
Cassidy Conn · 2 months ago · Google

Eating Tree Service

4119 N Sheridan Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46226

4.818

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“We have used Leo and his crew twice and also recommended him to our neighbors! He did a great job taking down a tree for us and several for my…”
Adina Coomes · 3 years ago · Google

Photo author: Brenda Knight

PR Tree Service

4426 Barnor Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46226

4.9135

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“This review is for; PR Tree Service in Indianapolis, Indiana. ** ** AMAZING!! They gave me a quote on Saturday, arrived today on the following…”
Celebrating The Day · 3 months ago · Google

Benjamin Indy Tree Service LLC

1812 Elmhurst Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46219

4.530

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“I called Benjamin Tree Service after receiving their flyer in the mail. We set up an on site appointment for the very same day I called (Friday). We…”
Jane Smith · a year ago · Google

The Davey Tree Expert Company

6801 Hawthorn Park Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46220

4.6103

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“I had two trees removed that were over 100ft tall! They were too close to my house and were leaning toward my home over my roof…scary! I was so…”
Kathy Score · 9 months ago · Google

Treemendous Tree & Landscape LLC

5868 E 71st St Ste E337, Indianapolis, IN 46220

5.035

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+1

“Chris and Brooke came out to our home in noblesville due to an unfortunate tree impact on our home i dont want to disclose parties involved due to…”
Patricia Kadosh · 4 months ago · Google

IndyArborist.com Tree Service LLC

6041 Middle Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46235

4.629

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+3

“This company helped my business finish a huge landscape job that we needed a professional arborist for. They filled my call, got me a quote within…”
Integrity Lawns · a year ago · Google

Big Brothers Tree Services

269 N Shortridge Rd Apt 3, Indianapolis, IN 46219

4.817

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+2

“Requested an estimate on Yelp from several tree management companies for my daughters property and Alex showed up on time to provide the estimate, he…”
SK 214 · 8 months ago · Google

ASAP Tree and Crane Services

7605 Indian Lake Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46236

4.9189

Tree Removal
Tree Trimming
Stump Grinding
+3

“I’m actually excited to write this review. Not only did ASAP take care of my yard request but they did it within my budget. They started the day off…”
Katie Brackett · a year ago · Google

Distance measured from Lawrence.