Gardening Answers Knowledgebase

It is possible that the bark-stripping may cause lasting damage to your cedar tree. Here is a document on managing squirrel damage from the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands. Here is an excerpt:
"The location of bark damage on a tree varies among tree species and is probably related to the ease of bark removal and bark thickness, and hence to the growth characteristics of different species. Basal damage (within 1 m of the ground)is the most common type of damage in beech (Fagus sylvatica). Crown damage frequently occurs in the main canopy of oaks and many conifers, while stem damage usually occurs between the base and canopy in, for example, sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), beech, birch (Betula spp.), larch (Larix spp.), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). [...] Crown damage affects the growth and appearance of the tree; severe crown damage kills it. Damage to the base and stem is cumulative occurring over a number of years. Wounds tend to callous over, hiding the damage until the tree is felled. Trees girdled by excessive stem or basal damage will die."

There are various methods of discouraging squirrels, but nothing is a fail-safe approach. The book, Outwitting Critters, by Bill Adler, Jr. (HarperPerennial, 1992) suggests dried blood fertilizer, ultrasonic devices, or live-trapping with peanut butter and small fruit as bait.

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife's website has a page which includes suggestions on how to protect trees from squirrels.

Season All Season
Date 2006-08-24
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If I am understanding your question correctly, you are asking about the extent to which Thuja plicata (Western red cedar) allows rainwater throughfall. I discovered that there was some research of possible relevance to your topic being done at Evergreen State University as well as at University of Waterloo.

The Miller Library has a book entitled Water in Environmental Planning by Luna Bergere Leopold (1978), which might also be relevant to your search.

Season All Season
Date 2006-12-19
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I am assuming that your golden cedar is a form of Thuja occidentalis or Thuja plicata. It is possible the sparrows caused the damage, but there could be other factors involved. It is difficult to tell without seeing the plant. Below are general comments on the liabilities of Thuja occidentalis as a landscape plant, from Ohio State University Extension:

• Winter evergreen foliage color is often an unattractive yellow-brown
• very prone to bagworms and their feeding damage
• very prone to branch separation under snow and ice loads
• widens at its base with age, or separates into several leaning but divergent canopies with age (this applies to both upright and rounded cultivars)
• does not recover from severe pruning (where the bare stems are exposed, although side branches may slowly envelope the dead stems)
• interior foliage noticeably sheds in Autumn

The defoliation you describe might also be the work of bagworms. If the tips of the branches are dying back, that could be a result of winter injury, drought stress, or a fungal disease. Since I cannot diagnose the problem remotely, I think it would be best if you brought a sample of the affected plant to a Master Gardener Clinic. If you are in King County, this link to their website will lead you to the current clinic schedule.

Season All Season
Date 2007-04-26
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Here is a link to information on managing bark injuries, from Cornell University's Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic, which includes illustrations. Excerpt:

"When a split occurs on a tree, what should you do? In recent years, quite a bit of research has been done on closure of tree wounds. These investigations have indicated that tree wound paints are of little value in helping a tree to callus over. For this reason, do not paint or try to seal a split with paint or tar. Tracing the bark around the split can be very helpful in aiding wound healing (Fig. 2). With a sharp knife, starting from one end of the split, trace around one side of the wound, about 1/2 to 1 inch back from the split bark. Stop at the other end and do the same procedure on the opposite side of the split. Knives should be sterilized between cuts by dipping them for several minutes in a 1:10 bleach:water solution or a 70% alcohol solution to avoid contaminating the cuts. Carefully remove the bark from inside the traced area. You should now have a bare area resembling the diagram in Fig. 2. Remember to leave this untreated. A tree growing with good vigor usually calluses over quickest. Encourage vigor in the tree with yearly spring fertilizer applications -- and be sure to provide adequate irrigation in hot, dry weather. Bark splits will often close over completely leaving a slight ridge in the trunk where callus tissue has been produced."

The book Practical Tree Management: An Arborist's Handbook by T. Lawrence et al. (Inkata Press, 1993) confirms the method described above. Trim back the bark to healthy tissue around the wound using tools such as a chisel, gouge, hammer, and sharp knife. Wound margins should be rounded, and damaged wood within the wound should be smoothed with a chisel or gouge, but only to the most minimal level (don't go deep).

If in doubt, I would recommend contacting a certified arborist for assistance. You can obtain a referral from Plant Amnesty or the Pacific Northwest chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.

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Date 2007-06-22
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Is your tree a true cedar (Cedrus) or a species of Thuja? The Thuja plicata (Western red cedar) in my garden also had a huge number of cones this year, and just like yours, it has some foliage turning reddish brown. This is probably cedar flagging, as described in this Washington State University Extension page. Flagging--the browning of older leaves and twigs--is a common occurrence on western red-cedar and related trees, such as arborvitae. It usually develops in late summer to early fall. Often, very hot, dry weather, followed by rain, will stimulate the sudden dropping of this older foliage.

If the browning were to be widespread, that might be more of a cause for concern. Additional links:

An image of a cedar suffering from cedar flagging

Cedar Flagging from the British Columbia Ministry of Forests

Season All Season
Date 2007-10-10
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