It is never a good idea to introduce wounds to a tree. Opportunistic pests will consider these wounded areas easy access and set up shop. This includes decay fungi. That wound could be the start of the mortality spiral for a stressed tree.

Robert, if you are concerned your trees are compromised from the serious drought we are in you should have a qualified arborist come out and advise. It is more likely they will be infested with the Southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman. It is an aggressive killer of all southern pines. Even healthy, vigorous trees may be overcome by an epidemic population. Selection and colonization of a host tree begins with the female beetle. After penetrating the bark of a suitable host (drought stressed tree), she constructs an egg gallery in the inner bark and is promptly joined by a male. Together they release volatile chemicals produced in their bodies called pheromones. In the presence of host odors the pheromone attracts other individuals in the vicinity to its source. The chemical released by these beetles described as an aggregation pheromone, draws large numbers to a tree suitable for colonization. During a southern pine beetle attack a healthy tree responds by bleeding pitch from the many attack holes. We offer chemical controls to fight this pest.