Does the amount of sap coming from a pine tree mean anything?

Answer 1

Sap contains the sugars and other products produced by the leaves during photosynthesis and is transported through the phloem in the sapwood. If sap is on the outside of the tree, the tree has been damaged and there is an open wound that breached the bark. Large amounts would indicate that the wound is severe and/or the tree has ample water available, is producing a lot of sugar, or (in the spring) is moving stored nutrients from the roots to the upper tissues for growth.

Pitch, on the other hand, is a sticky resin produced by the tree to defend against insects and to try to seal wounds. This resin is contained in the bark and in resin ducts in the wood. Pitch on the outside of the tree can also be a result of damage, or it sometimes leaks out if there is an abundance in the bark. Pitch is very energy and resource intensive to produce, so large amounts usually indicate a healthy tree.