Question
Hi Jim,
I purchased a lot with a large pine tree in the backyard that provides a lot of shade. It is about two foot across. The tree is all green. It did have a major dead limb out the side.I removed the dead limb and I found it took a strip of rotted wood out down the side of the tree about 6 inches deep for about eight feet. Now ithe tree looks terrible with a big cavity in the side. I guess ants have got to it. The tree guys say i should have it removed at a cost of $700. Is there any way I can spray it with something to kill the ants, and pack the big cavity with something like putty, or tar, or tree filler?

I figure I will have to remove the tree (it is near the house) but it will be a while before I get $700. With spray and filler, maybe I can keep it from getting worse. The ants could endanger my other pines. Do you know where I can buy something like that? I could not find anything around town except a spray can --and I would need a few thousand of those to fill the cavity.

Answer
First the ants will not kill the tree-they a being attracted to the wound and sap from the tree. They can be easily sprayed (I think Raid is advertising a outdoor ant/bug spray--spray the trunk all aroung the diameter up to about a foot high and the wound itself. Do not worry about the "cavity". I would trim any loose bark and wood off the edges of the wound , this way the tree over time will grow over the wound and heal itself. IF the tree is green as you say it is healthy and should not be removed.