Fruit tree died covered in sticky stuff (5)

'covered in sticky stuff' is the definition.
'limed' can be an answer for 'covered' (liming is a kind of covering). I am not sure about the 'in sticky stuff' bit.

'fruit tree died' is the wordplay.
'fruit tree' becomes 'lime' (lime is a kind of fruit tree).
'died' becomes 'd' (abbreviation next to the year of someone's death).
'lime'+'d'='LIMED'

Can you help me to learn more?