Hi! I have a Tamukeyama Japanese Maple, and after some moving around and checking light and all that, I've decided to plant it. It's large, in a pot-probably about 10 years old. The spot I picked has a large chipmunk hole RIGHT in front. Will they bother the roots?? Anyone have any experience with a similar situation? The lil buggers have never bothered any of the other plants out there-there are hydrangeas, and phlox and giant hostas....even irises they have left alone.....I'm apprehensive after spending such a large amount of money on an ornamental tree!!! (But it does stick out over my other plants it's so gorgeous!) Thanks, Julie Ford in Hopkinton, MA
I am no rodent expert, but the burrowing by Chipmunks should not affect the roots, nor should they attack them... do you have pets in the yard? Cats or a Ratter may help rid the little furry creatures....
Thanks for the advice Karen! I just wanted a second opinion after spending such a large sum on an ornamental tree! I'll plant it today and hopefully "Chippy" won't be home at that time! :) I do have pets, I have 3 big dogs (Rottweiler included!) that are NOT allowed in the landscaped areas for obvious reasons, and a cat-but she's old and no longer ventures outside. I don't mind the little critters at all, I think they are cute, and add character to the gardens anyway! I catch them sitting on the rocks in between my plants and dashing from hole to hole, they are cute.... Julie
You won't have to worry about the chipmunks bothering your tree roots. I have several of the little guys in my yard and they have never harmed a single plant (in 14 years). I do have a Mini schnauzer which is one of the ratting breeds, but the little rodents are a tad to sly and fast for him, though they do give me a good laugh when the play catch me if you can.
I planted the tree today, so I'll see how it goes (I had to do something to cheer myself up after watching my BRUINS blow it last night). The chipmunk burrow was RIGHT in front of the hole. And I had to dig right throught it. I have Rottweilers, and a Border Collie and they are NOT allowed in the garden! As you said, I think the chipmunks add character-I see them dashing around from hole to hole, and sometimes sitting up on the big rocks in the garden. They are very cute! And haven't bothered any other plants..... So I want this maple to "canopy"-it's got a nice straight, established trunk. I should wait for it to be dormant before I do any pruning, correct??? I've seen ads for this gunk that you put on the "wounds" after pruning, in your opinion is that necessary? I want to give it a "bonsai" like shape eventually.....not necessarily turn it into a bonsai, it's obviously not in a container. Thoughts about that??
Can't help you on the pruning situation the only tree I prune in my yard is a Staghorn Sumac, but when I trim off large banches, I've actually used some latex primer (usually white), wierd but I've never had anything go wrong with the limbs, But you have to make sure it's latex, and not oil based.
I believe the general feeling today is that these "wound-sealers" are not worth the trouble and expense. Trees have a natural ability to seal off the juncture where a branch or a limb has been lost -- this happens in nature all the time. The important thing is making the right kind of cut -- not too flush against the main stem, but also not leaving any more "stub" than necessary. I'm sure you've probably done this before or read about how to do it. My habit is to prune in late winter or early spring here in New England. I don't like fall pruning because I want the plant to have a chance to begin the healing/sealing process fairly soon after the cutting is done -- so as not to allow insects or diseases to get a head start while the tree is dormant and helpless.
Re: Tamukeyama Acer We do not have chipmunks in Europe so I do not know what their feeding habits are, will they chew the maple roots? Our ground mice, in comparable situation, will drill a hole through the rootball and there is nothing I can do about it other than asimilate it to some sort of root pruning. Your tree will not be risk free but I cannot really quantify it. Good luck Gomero
