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A report drawing on gardener Larry Hodgson’s archives answers four reader questions about tree care. It advises leaving minor squirrel damage alone, avoiding attempts to dig out decay in a maple, choosing a replacement tree with shade and disease susceptibility in mind, and planting willows away from old or damaged pipes.
A Laidback Gardener report published October 2 answers four readers’ questions about tree problems, recommending that gardeners generally tolerate squirrels clipping small oak twigs, avoid digging decay out of a maple, choose a replacement for a black-knot-infected chokecherry carefully, and keep willows away from old or damaged pipes. The advice, drawn from Larry Hodgson’s archives, distinguishes ordinary garden concerns from damage that warrants professional inspection.
For mature oaks shedding small branches as squirrels feed or move around, the report says losing twigs up to about 6–7 millimetres in diameter is usually of little consequence. Squirrels may cut branches to reach acorns, buds or other parts of the tree. Repellents may work inconsistently and are impractical to apply across large trees, so the suggested response is to tolerate the activity. More severe damage or the loss of larger branches would merit an assessment.
For a maple with a rotting trunk and insect larvae described by its owner as white grubs, Hodgson says the larvae cannot be identified from the description alone. They may be insects living in weakened or decaying wood, and their presence does not establish that they caused the tree’s decline. The report advises against removing more rotten wood, digging out the cavity or applying wound dressing. If failure could endanger people or property, it recommends an inspection by a certified arborist.
The other answers address replacement choices and planting distance. A pin oak may eventually cast too much shade for perennials beneath it, while thornless honey locust cultivars are offered as an option with lighter-filtering foliage. The report cautions against Russian olive because it is invasive in many parts of North America and against black locust because it can sucker extensively. It says a non-Prunus tree can be planted after removing a chokecherry affected by black knot; the site need not be left empty to cleanse the soil. Corkscrew willows, meanwhile, have vigorous roots that can exploit existing cracks or leaks in pipes, rather than spontaneously breaking sound pipes or foundations.
Choosing the Right Response for Each Tree
The advice matters because treating every visible tree problem as an emergency can lead to unnecessary work, while overlooking a tree in a hazardous location can put people or property at risk. The report draws a practical distinction: minor twig loss generally needs no action, but extensive trunk damage near a place where a tree could fall warrants a professional assessment. It does not claim that the maple described by the reader is unstable.
Replacement planting also has longer-term consequences. A tree that leaves enough light for perennials when young may cast heavier shade as it grows, and species choice affects both disease risk and future maintenance. The willow answer similarly turns a broad reputation into a more specific precaution: consider the condition and location of existing pipes before planting, especially where infrastructure is already damaged.
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The Four Reader Questions
The report is structured around four situations: squirrels clipping branches from acorns-producing mature oaks; a maple with apparent trunk decay and larvae; a ‘Schubert’ chokecherry affected by black knot; and a gardener considering a corkscrew willow with twisted branches and golden winter bark. The answers are presented as gardening guidance, not as on-site diagnoses of the individual trees.
Black knot is described as rough, swollen, charcoal-black growths on branches. It primarily affects certain trees in the genus Prunus, including cherries and plums. The report’s planting advice is therefore to avoid replacing the chokecherry with another susceptible Prunus at that spot, rather than waiting for the soil to be cleared of the disease.
“There’s no “miracle cure.””
— Larry Hodgson, as quoted in the Laidback Gardener report
What the Descriptions Cannot Establish
The report cannot determine from the written account what species the maple’s larvae are, how extensive the internal decay is, or whether the tree is structurally unsafe. It explicitly says the larvae’s presence does not prove they caused the decline. A qualified, in-person assessment would be needed to evaluate the tree and its setting.
The squirrel advice is also general: the report says small-twig loss is usually minor, but provides no inspection of the reader’s oaks. It does not specify a universal safe planting distance between willows and pipes, and the final answer advises distance from old or damaged pipes and septic systems without setting out measurements. Local conditions, including soil moisture and infrastructure condition, remain relevant.
Practical Checks Before Acting
For gardeners facing similar issues, the next steps depend on the tree. Monitor ordinary squirrel activity and seek advice if larger branches are affected. Do not excavate a decaying trunk cavity; arrange a certified arborist’s inspection if the tree could fall onto people or property. Before replacing a black-knot-infected chokecherry, check that the chosen species is not a susceptible Prunus and consider its eventual size and shade. Before planting a willow, locate nearby pipes and septic systems and consider whether they are old or damaged.
The report does not announce a new treatment, trial or regulatory change. Its next step for the maple is professional evaluation if risk is a concern; for the other cases, it offers general planting and maintenance guidance rather than a timetable for follow-up.
Key Questions
Do squirrels cutting small oak branches harm the tree?
The report says occasional loss of twigs about 6–7 millimetres across is generally of little consequence for large, mature oaks. More severe damage or larger branches should be assessed.
Should I remove rotten wood from a tree trunk?
The report advises against digging out a cavity or removing more decayed wood, which could damage the tree’s natural barriers to decay. If failure could cause serious harm, contact a certified arborist.
Can I plant a new tree immediately after removing a tree with black knot?
According to the report, yes, if the replacement is not a susceptible Prunus species. It says there is no need to leave the site empty to cleanse the soil.
Can corkscrew willow roots damage pipes or foundations?
The report says willow roots can exploit existing cracks or leaks in older pipes. It does not say they spontaneously break sound pipes or foundations, but recommends planting willows well away from old or damaged pipes and septic systems.
Source: rss
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