Blue Spruce Cankers

Question: I have a roughly 10ft tall weeping blue spruce I purchased and put in the ground this spring. I was told these variety of blue spruce tend to be less susceptible to disease due to being less crowded and having more airflow around them which minimizes the chance of mildew/fungi growth. 
I do a deep soak in the ground at the base of the tree every couple of days. (I never water the branches or needles to avoid standing water or spore growth.) It's located on the southwest corner of my home where it receives a lot of airflow and sunlight. It had close to 9" of new growth merely months after putting it in the ground. 
However recently I noticed sap oozing down from several cankers on the side of the trunk that are covered in a white powder which I'm assuming is a fungal infection. I was reading up on it and most recommendations say to prune or cut back the branches above and below the infection site to minimize spread. If I follow those instructions, it will dramatically change the look of the tree and possibly kill it as they are some of the biggest and most prominent branches on it. What are the best methods for treating these infections and preventing more from happening in the future?

responder: Thank you for contacting Ask Extension!  Replied July 17, 2023, 6:30 PM EDT
response: You don't have any signs of the needlecast diseases that routinely infect blue spruce. The white in the close-up image appears to be resin (not fungi) released from the tree in response to physical wounding. The injury could be a canker, but it also could be from deer rubbing their antlers on the tree, or from borer insects creating holes that resin flows from. It could also be caused by someone resting a ladder against the tree, or other sources of physical injury. When did you first notice these "cankers"? When you examine the locations more closely than I can from the photo, do you see signs of physical injury, like it may have been scraped by something?

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 19, 2023, 7:40 AM EDT
response: Hi Brent,Thanks for taking the time to respond and look into this for me! I purchased the approx 10ft tall tree from Everetts back in April of this year. I was told the tree was reaching its maximum growth for a balled and burlapped tree and had been sitting on their grounds upwards of 4 years before we brought it home. We put it in a covered trailer and put it in the ground same same day with the help of a friend. We were all paying close attention to minimizing damage during transport, the worst being that several large pine cones were knocked off. I'm wondering if the cankers and oozing resin could be from old pruning locations where branches were removed during the shaping phase? (Afterall, it is a landscaping company sculpting ornamental trees to give them desirable looks to sell.) I first started to notice the cankers when I saw the resin and white-ish looking powder on the main trunk a couple weeks ago, however I think they've probably been around a little longer than that. Didn't notice them the day of purchase. I haven't done anything personally that would damage the tree, haven't pruned much except a few small/tiny branches that laid on the ground. Deer haven't touched it. We do have a bad Japanese beetle issue, but it seems to affect certain other plants, but no evidence of damage to this tree. It is good to know that at this point, it doesn't seem to be affected by any common needlecast diseases. I'll attach some additional photos for your reference.-Jim S.On Mon, Jul 17, 2023, 18:30 Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Thank you for contacting Ask Extension!  Replied July 19, 2023, 8:57 AM EDT
response: The new photos show a lot more. Whatever the source, those are physical wounds that have not properly healed. The photo ending in 54 looks like a small branch either broke off or was pruned too close and didn't heal right. The photo ending in 27 shows physical injury with plenty of new resin flow. The tree will release resin to try to seal a wound, and to keep out insects. Unfortunately, those injuries will take time to heal and may never fully heal. They leave a point of entry for insects and disease that can weaken the tree. There is no treatment we recommend other than to minimize stress on the tree, and to keep an eye on the tree and see if you notice any further problems down the road. You could have an arborist look at the tree to be sure no insects have gotten into the injury sites. You mention watering every couple of days. If you are on a sandy site, watering deeply every 4 days should be sufficient. If you are on clay soil, water only once a week during prolonged dry periods. Either way, prior to watering, dig your finger down an inch or two into the soil and make sure the ground has dried out prior to watering. Moist soil is fine, you just don't want it to stay wet.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 21, 2023, 9:48 PM EDT
response: Hi Brent,  That makes sense about the resin and wounds on the tree due to poor pruning practices. If I purchased and applied a petroleum based tree cut sealer, would that help at all or is it primarily for fresh cuts before a tree begins it's own response? I'll be sure to keep a close eye on those wounds and see where things go. At least I can help control the direction of its health by continuing to water deeply a couple times a week. I appreciate your advice and knowledge regarding these issues. Have a good weekend!-JimOn Wed, Jul 19, 2023, 08:57 Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: