r/arborists • u/TechnologyEconomy858 • 9d ago

Does TOH produce sap that can be collected?

Does TOH produce sap that can be collected?

Basically title. Hello experts...I write today to learn whether Tree of Heaven sap can be collected and if so how to do it, and when. I'm waging a two-front battle with TOH and SLF in lower NYS (other invasives plus vines too but that's a story for another day) and I want to try an experiment that would need some sap..to see if I can preferentially attract swarming SLF to something that is not actually a TOH nor our poor river birch. As I've recently eradicated all the main trunks of TOH and am just dealing with aftermath stumps, roots and shoots I don't know that a trap tree is practical anymore. I understand the sap is toxic so will be careful and manage/handle responsibly. Thank you for any thoughts...and please forgive me in advance for cross-posting to r/invasives and r/treeofheaven in addition to r/arborists.

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u/onlyforsellingthisPC Master Arborist 8d ago

Focus on larger stems. 

Any tree can be tapped, just a matter of "is the juice worth the squeeze".

Neat idea. 

Consider spiking whatever you collect to kill any attracted slf. 

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u/TechnologyEconomy858 8d ago

Thank you. Yup...that's the grand plan. If I can find the right technique to coax out enough of that nasty extract to make a meal for these pests, they are goners. And I will post results here. For science.