Cryptic crossword clue
Shake tree, perhaps, where there’s cuckoo I feed a lot 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word DEFOLIATE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Shake tree, perhaps" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case shake tree, perhaps = defoliate.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does DEFOLIATE mean?

DEFOLIATE verb
  1. To remove foliage from (one or more plants), most often with a chemical agent.
DEFOLIATE adjective
  1. Deprived of leaves; defoliated.

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