Because the crown of the tree is so lush, Chen Ming-yi worries that the root system is not up to the task of supporting it. He fears a heavy wind might blow it over and damage the neighboring houses. Chen has suggested pruning some of its branches. "I think the tree's spirit would forgive us for doing this," Chen Ming-yi tells the local residents.
在烏日鄉太明路小巷裡，一棵被奉為「茄冬公」並立廟接受奉祀的老茄冬樹下，由於老樹樹冠極茂盛，陳明義擔心根系不勝負荷，樹大招風，易被吹倒，也可能傷到鄰近的住家，就建議將樹勢稍微整理、修剪掉一些樹枝，「我想神明會諒解我們這樣做的」，陳明義告訴當地人說。