Spikeless Coconut Tree Trimming? The 128 Correct Answer

Reader’s email:

The coconuts in my Thai garden look like they’re about to fall. It’s a big tree and it’s getting dangerous. Can you tell me how to get them down without getting a really long ladder or having to climb the tree?

Response from Thailand Info

Yes – the coconut problem. I know it very well. There is a way to do this and it won’t cost you much.

Like the man in this photo, you attach a saw to the end of a long object and saw off the coconuts and palm leaves from the ground.

Saw at the end of a long stick

In Thailand, most tools you buy have a hole in the handle that you can insert plastic tubing or wood into. For tall coconut trees I recommend you invest in the same bamboo as you need a rigid pole and the wood gets a bit heavy after a while. The guy in the photo used thick plastic tubing for the bottom part and then wood for the top part.

It’s hard work removing coconuts

This task requires some effort and perseverance. However, this is a technique to do so. For the palm leaves you need a saw with a curve. Get the curved end piece onto the stem of the palm leaf and cut down. The weight of the leaf will open the stem as you cut it. If you try to cut it from the bottom up it will be very difficult. The same goes for the coconuts themselves. Aim at the point where the trunk holding the coconut is closest to the trunk of the tree and try to cut down with the curved end portion of the saw. If you try to cut the stem closer to the coconut, the coconut and stem will rotate and you will not cut it successfully.

To be honest, even with good technique, it’s a tiring job that takes a long time. Plan at least an hour per tree and take regular breaks.

Next, read how to grow bougainvillea from a cutting?

Imagine a large coconut falling from a mature palm tree on your property that is a few stories tall. The consequences could actually be deadly and at the very least severely damage vehicles and passers-by. The last thing you want is for one of those “liabilities” to fall off a coconut tree on your property.

The solution: the right cut. Pruning also involves removing small coconuts to prevent them from growing into potential hazards. Well, if you’re growing coconut palms to harvest the fruit, that’s a different story — but many commercial properties want to showcase the tree without the “fear of falling.”

Here are some tips for pruning coconut trees that will keep the trees healthy and your commercial property safe for everyone.

Palm Pruning Tip #1: Keep the fronds freshly pruned

It’s time to trim palm fronds when you notice the fronds falling down at the base of the circle and turning yellow or brown. Cut the dying fronds close to the tree trunk – but not too close.

Bark is easily damaged and wounds can become entry points for insects and disease.

Palm Pruning Tip #2: Be sensible

As a general rule, avoid cutting off more fronds than a palm produces in a year. For each frond produced, the oldest frond will turn yellow/brown and ready for trimming. Green fronds help the palm produce food to survive during stressful times like cold and drought.

Be careful not to prune too much, which can weaken the palms and affect the overall health of the tree.

Palm Pruning Tip #3: Remove small coconuts

To be on the safe side, remove small coconuts from the palm tree. This prevents them from causing damage to property or people. Palm trees can grow up to 100 feet tall, so consider if you have the tools and expertise to properly prune and remove coconuts. Landscape professionals with palm pruning experience can use special lifting and pruning techniques to help maintain tree health.

Palm Pruning Tip #4: Hire a professional

No Ka Oi Landscape Services commercial landscape professionals have the experience and tools to keep our Kauai customers’ palm trees healthy and safe.

Contact us to find out more! Call us at 808-335-5887 or fill out our simple contact form and we’ll be in touch.

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As arborists, we should be concerned with minimizing damage to a tree.

A tree lives just under the bark. Here is the vascular cambium and really the only “living” part of the tree. The impaling (spurs, hooks, gapes, etc.) of a living tree causes multiple injuries to the phloem, cambium and xylem and destroys the tree’s own protection against outside invaders such as insects and other pathogens. For example, a healthy uninjured fir or pine tree seems less attractive to sap suckers and borers than a diseased bleeding one. Poke a few holes in the same healthy tree and you’ll no doubt attract more sap suckers and borers. They can smell/feel the sap and will therefore target the tree.

Some research has also shown that infected climbing spikes can spread some pathogens from diseased trees to healthy trees, much like a common cold can spread from person to person.

A tree must also expend energy to recover from a wound, much like an animal or human. The tree’s overall strength is reduced as energy that would normally be used for other normal metabolic functions must be diverted to heal wounds. The tree will likely survive, but overall it won’t be as strong as it would have been had it not been injured. Pricked holes also provide access for bacteria and fungi that could infect the tree and potentially lead to its death. Hiring an experienced arborist who has the right equipment and knowledge is the best step in preserving your trees when pruning.

Aside from health concerns for the trees, the holes left by climbing spikes are just plain unsightly and can reduce the value of your trees!

These are sad examples of a fir being speared “wind sailing” by someone from a door-to-door tree company:

Blue-green waves ripple on a cream-colored beach. Towering coconut palms line the shore, like giant feather dusters rooted in the sand. The green fronds of the trees rustle in the sea breeze, providing a shady retreat from the equatorial heat.

For the modern dive traveler, coconut palms mean warm seas and sunny beaches. For people in the tropical regions of the world, the coconut palm is the “tree of life” and has been an important source of food, clothing and shelter for millennia.

The roots of a tree

The origin of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is the subject of ongoing debate. Current theory holds that it is native to Malesia, a biogeographical region roughly defined as an area encompassing Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, and several Pacific island groups. It’s hard to say when people started cultivating the coconut palm, but there is evidence that coconuts were used in India 3,000 years ago.

Today, coconut palms grow in the tropics in a band around the world 25 degrees north and 25 degrees south of the equator. The tree is found in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, India, Australia, the Pacific Islands, South America, Africa, the Caribbean and the southern extremes of North America. The ideal growing conditions for coconut trees include free-draining, aerated soils often found on sandy beaches, a supply of fresh groundwater, a humid atmosphere, and temperatures between 80 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (27 and 30 degrees Celsius).

Both humans and ocean currents are responsible for the worldwide spread of the coconut palm. Portable and slowly rotting, coconuts were transported in the ships of the explorers and the canoes of the nomadic Polynesians. Resistant to salt water and also buoyant, coconuts can ride ocean currents long distances and germinate even after three months at sea.

Botanically speaking

There are two types of coconut trees: tall and dwarf. The tall variety is commonly planted for commercial purposes. With a lifespan of 60-80 years, it is considered a “three-generation tree” because it can support a farmer, his children and his grandchildren. The tree matures slowly and will bear coconuts in six to ten years. A mature tree has a trunk of about 46 cm in diameter and can reach a height of 30 m. The top of the tree is adorned with about 20 large, downward-curving leaves called fronds, each about 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 m) long. The dwarf variety is about a third the size, has a shorter lifespan and is difficult to grow, but is prized for producing coconuts earlier than the tall tree.

While a coconut is commonly mistaken for a nut, it is actually the fruit of the tree. The coconut is botanically classified as a “drupe,” defined as a drupe that usually has a single hard kernel enclosing a seed. Peaches, plums, and cherries are other examples of stone fruit. Resembling warped soccer balls, coconuts grow in clusters of 10-20, with 10 or 12 clusters visible on a tree at a time. Each coconut consists of a smooth outer husk (epicarp), a thick, fibrous husk (mesocarp), and a stony inner husk (endocarp) that features three small “eyes” or germ pores. The pores are often referred to as “monkey face”. Everything inside the hard shell is made up of the coconut seeds.

Tropical bounty

It takes a whole year for a coconut to go from blossom to ripe fruit. During this time, the coconut goes through four stages of development, each with different food properties:

Stage 1. When the coconut is immature or green, the liquid in the inner shell is sweet and refreshing and can yield up to a liter of juice. Because it is sealed in its own hygienic container, the liquid can be used in place of sterile water for medicinal purposes and is commonly used to treat dehydration and an upset stomach. During World War II, the liquid from the green coconut was used as a substitute for a medicinal saline drip and saved the lives of many soldiers stationed in the tropical Pacific.

Stage 2. As the coconut begins to mature, a thin white layer of “meat” begins to line the inner shell. The “meat” at this stage is the consistency of a soft-boiled egg and can be eaten with a spoon.

Stage 3. The coconut continues to mature while staying on the tree. The fleshy inner layer of the shell thickens and hardens, and the liquid turns into tasteless water. The fresh flesh can be ground up and used in cooking, or dried to make “copra,” which is used to make coconut oil.

Stage 4. When a coconut fully matures on the tree and falls to the ground, it can germinate under the right conditions. Upon germination, a white, spongy, sweet ball called an “apple” develops in the inner shell, which absorbs both the liquid and the flesh. The apple is edible and is considered a sweet delicacy.

Other food and beverage products derived from the coconut palm make the tree a versatile and vital food source for tropical cultures. In addition to the sap of the coconut, another drink comes from a different part of the tree. The flower stalk, called an inflorescence, can be tied, cut and tapped for its juice. Dubbed sweet toddy, the fresh juice is packed with nutrients and is the daily drink in many tropical cultures. The juice can also be boiled into syrup or fermented into an alcoholic beverage.

A common product used in Southeast Asian cuisine – coconut milk – is not the same as coconut juice from the inner shell. Coconut milk is made by soaking fresh or dried coconut meat in warm water, filtering the solid material and allowing the “cream” to rise to the surface. Coconut oil, which is extracted from copra, is also used in cooking.

Another food product comes from the cylindrical stalks of new, unopened leaf shoots at the top of the tree. Dubbed the heart of the palm, the food is prized for its crunchy texture and refreshing taste. Extracting the heart kills a coconut tree, and as a result, a palm salad heart earned the nickname “Millionaire’s Salad.” Fortunately, there are other palm species that do not die when their hearts are harvested, and these provide hearts of palm in commercial quantities.

The giving tree

The variety of edible products derived from the coconut palm qualifies the tree for VIP (Very Important Plant) status. But wait; there is more As the Indonesians say, “There are as many uses for the coconut tree as there are days in the year.”

The tree is an excellent source of building materials. Posts and beams are made from the trunk of the tree. Thatched roofs, formed by long leaves placed close together, keep water out and allow air to circulate. Strong siding comes from the dried spines of the fronds. In addition to providing materials for structural shelter, the standing trees protect people and animals from the sun and rain. They also act as an important barrier against tropical storms as they are flexible and able to withstand strong winds.

For clothing and household needs, the husk of the coconut is spun into a saltwater-resistant fiber called “coir,” which is used to make rope, netting, mats, brushes, and sewing thread. Hats, baskets, fans and brooms can be woven from the leaves of the tree. Other household items such as bowls, spoons and buttons are carved from the hard shell of the coconut. Handicrafts and jewelry made from different parts of the tree are sold to tourists. All parts of the tree can be composted into fertilizer and the leaves used as animal feed. The leaves, husks and husks are burned for fuel.

Commercially, activated carbon filters made from coconut shells are used in gas masks and cigarettes and are considered superior to filters from other sources. The cosmetics and hygiene industries have incorporated coconut oil into makeup, soap, moisturizers, and hair care products.

Throughout history, man has tampered with nature to create the perfect plant. In the case of the coconut palm, nature had forestalled him.

coconut folklore

Because the coconut palm is vital to many cultures, there are numerous beliefs and legends about this precious plant. In India, the coconut symbolizes the goddess of fertility and is given to women who wish to have children. Similarly, in parts of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the coconut tree represents birth, and a tree is planted for each newborn. In the Philippines, human origin is believed to come from two coconuts, one male and one female, that washed ashore from the sea. A Polynesian legend says that coconuts only grow where the sound of the sea and human voices can be heard.

Many legends tell of the origin of the coconut palm, and that of Tonga is retold here. On a remote island in Tonga lived a beautiful young girl named Heina. She lived with her parents on a freshwater lake. Every morning Heina bathed in the lake and was watched by an eel who fell in love with her. Heina agreed to marry the eel, but her parents forbade it. The father caught the eel and allowed it to see Heina one last time before killing it. The eel asked her to ask her parents to keep his head and bury it in front of their house. This happened, and every day Heina sat there and shed tears where the head was buried.

After a while, a green sprout peeped through the tear-stained earth, and Heina realized that she was pregnant. As the plant grew, so did the child within it. Heina gave birth to a son, and the plant grew and became the first coconut tree. As the boy grew, he climbed the tree and pulled down the fruit from the top. Heina knew that the strange tree would benefit her people. As a reminder of this love story, each coconut features the eel’s face in the form of three dark spots – two for the eyes and one for the mouth. From the mouth comes the goodness because only here can a hole be made to reach the sweet juice inside.

what’s in a name

To Portuguese and Spanish explorers, the three dark spots at the base of a coconut shell resembled a leprechaun’s face. “Coco” is the word for goblin in Portuguese and Spanish. The word coco has often been translated as monkey face.

In the mid-17th century, Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language lists “coconut” as the fruit of the coconut palm. It has been suggested that Johnson confused coconuts with cocoa beans, later called cacao, when chocolate made its way to England. Over time, the “a” has been omitted.

By Amy Gulick

The process of fertilizing coconut trees should begin with planting. This ensures better and faster development in the early stages of life. With proper care, a coconut palm will bear 50 to 200 fruits each year for 80 years, so learning how to fertilize coconut palms is crucial to the longevity of the tree.

Fertilizer is the most important and expensive input to increase crop yields. There is no doubt that fertilizers play a very active role in increasing crop yields. Let’s look at the best fertilizer for coconut trees.

Essential elements in coconut nutrition

Among the basic nutrients, potash (K) is the most important in coconut cultivation, followed by nitrogen (N). There is a general reaction to the use of K and N; while the reaction of phosphorus (P) is only observed under certain limited and local conditions. Magnesium (Mg) and chlorine (Cl) have a positive effect on the secondary nutrients, followed by calcium (Ca), sulfur (S) and sodium (Na). In micronutrients, zinc (Zn), boron (B), and manganese (Mn) are required under some limited conditions.

Nutrient Effects in Coconut Palms

Nitrogen – The supply of nitrogen, which is a component of chlorophyll and plant cells, is important for the rapid growth and development of plants. Nitrogen promotes the growth of parts of the plant, especially the leaves and branches, as well as the number of leaves.

Phosphorus – Found mainly in leaves and seeds, phosphorus is also found in parts of plants where cells are dividing heavily. It plays an important role in root growth and productivity.

Potassium – Potassium also has important and specific functions that it performs along with phosphorus. Since potash is particularly important for the formation of sugar, fat and fiber, a high demand for potash in the coconut palm can be expected.

In case you miss this: Coconut Gardening for Beginners, how to get started

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Manganese – It helps form chlorophyll in the leaves. It is mainly present in the lower leaves and provides favorable growing conditions in the small stages of the palm.

Magnesium – Magnesium (Mg) has positive effects on the overall growth and productivity of the palm. It also plays an important role in photosynthesis and leaf greening.

Sulfur – Sulfur increases oil content and decreases N and sugar content.

Best NPK fertilizer for coconut trees

Coconut trees need to be fertilized, which contains the highest levels of potassium, followed by nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorine, but care must be taken to balance the fertilizer. 1000:500:2000 g NPK/palm/year is recommended for hybrid cocos in coastal areas.

First apply sufficient basic fertilizer and use urea as basic fertilizer. Fertilizer has a powerful effect and can accelerate the physical growth of plants. Then we only use organic fertilizers. In the early stages, we should appropriately increase the use of high-nitrogen inorganic chemical fertilizers to promote the germination and differentiation of coconut trees and improve the flowering rate. During the flowering period of the coconut trees, we use more phosphate fertilizer to increase the flowering rate, prevent flowers and fruits from falling off, and improve the production and quality of the coconut. In the later period, during the full growth of the coconut, we use potassium fertilizer to promote the proliferation of the coconut and improve the flavor and thickness of the fruit.

Regular fertilizer from the first year of planting is essential for good plant growth, early flowering and development, and high yield of coconut trees. The generally recommended fertilizer dosage for coconut trees is as follows:

Age N (grams) P205 (grams) K2O (grams) 1st year 50 40 120 2nd year 160 120 400 3rd year 330 240 800 4th year 500 320 1200

In case you miss this: High Density Coconut Plantation – Spacing, Yield

Way of applying fertilizers

The first method – open a circular basin with a radius of 1.8 m and a depth of 20-25 cm at the end of the basin and apply the recommended amount of fertilizer with compost and green leaves. The second method – dig a circular ditch 30 cm wide and 20-25 cm deep. Apply recommended fertilizers along with compost & plenty of green foliage and cover the tank with topsoil.

Biofertilizer recommendation

50 g azospirillum

100 g azophos or 50 g phosphobacteria

50g VAM

All of the above ingredients are mixed in a sufficient amount of FYM or compost and then applied near the food roots once every 6 months/palm from planting. However, do not mix it with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Different stages for fertilizing coconut trees

The fertilization of coconut palms varies depending on the stage of development.

Coconut fertilizer in transplant

The large green leaves of the coconut palm need extra nitrogen. A 2-1-1 ratio granular fertilizer containing both slow-release and fast-release nitrogen should be used. The instant release provides the nitrogen acceleration to speed up the growth of the palm tree, while the slow release gradually supplies nitrogen to the developing roots. Specific palm fertilizers can be used or a combination can be applied at the time of transplantation.

In case you miss this: Growing Dwarf Coconut Trees – A Complete Guide

Fertilize young coconut trees

Once the transplant is established, fertilizing coconut palms is of ongoing importance. Foliar fertilizer is the best application method. They are sold with either macro or micro elements. The macro elements include:

nitrogen

potassium

phosphorus

Include microelements

manganese

molybdenum

boron

iron

zinc

copper

They usually come together but may need a wetting agent to allow the fertilizer to get through the waxy coating of the palms where it can be absorbed. If the fertilizer does not contain a wetting agent, add three to five drops of liquid detergent to each gallon (4 L) of mixture.

Foliar fertilizer for young coconut trees should be applied for 24 hours in dry weather. Apply at intervals of one to three months – monthly is better. After the first year, foliar fertilizers can be dispensed with. Granule applications are plentiful and should still be used in a 2-1-1 ratio, but can now be done every three to four months.

Organic Fertilizers

Organic waste from cover crop farm such as cattle, carabao, pig, goat, chicken, compost can be used to replace commercial fertilizer needs. Remnants of the coconut crown as an organic fertilizer and nitrogen-fixing legumes as a source of N, while coco peat and husks provide chlorine.

In case you miss this: Organic farming, cultivation and production of coconuts

How to apply

Fertilizer can be applied in two ways.

1. In flat areas, it can be spread in the ring-vegetated area around the base of the palm (radius of about 1.0-1.5 meters) and then through the fork to add fertilizer to the soil.

2. In hilly areas, digging holes is recommended, and the fertilizer is placed 5 cm deep around the base of the palms in 8 to 10 equidistant holes, and then covered with soil.

Organic Recycling – Cover crops such as sunn hemp, wild indigo, calapagonium or daincha can be sown and tilled at flowering time as an alternative to compost. Sow Sunnhemp in the tank @ 50g/date palm and incorporate before flowering. Coconut pith compost / vermicompost can be used from coco pith / coconut leaves / other coconut grove waste.

compost fertilization

Apply 50 kg FYM or liquid manure or green manure from the 5th year. Apply 1.3 kg of urea (560 g N), 2.0 kg of superphosphate (320 g P2O5) and 2.0 kg of potassium salt (1200 g K2O) in two equal distributions in June-July and December-January.

Apply, add and water fertilizer in a 1.8 meter circular basin from the base of the palm tree.

During the second, third and fourth year, ¼, ½ and ¾ doses of the above schedule should be adopted.

There should be enough moisture during the fertilization period.

The above fertilizers can be fertilized at monthly intervals at 75% of the recommended dose.

Phosphorus can be added to the pool as superphosphate and can be added by drip if good quality water is available.

worm composting

The local Eudrilus species was identified from the coconut orchard, which is superior to other species in composting coconut plantation waste. This earthworm reproduces quickly in a 1:1 mixture of cow dung and decomposed organic waste. Put 10 kg of this mixture in a bucket and release 50 to 100 worms. In 1 to 2 months, 150 to 300 grams of earthworms are produced.

When should you fertilize a coconut tree?

The timing of fertilizing coconut trees also varies, particularly due to climatic conditions and soil type. Although there are usually hundreds of possibilities, we can split them into two main groups;

In Case You Miss This: Coconut Seed Germination, Period, Process

If the crop is cultivated in dry conditions on sandy or coarse-grained soils, the nitrogen is divided into three parts in the rainy season.

Clay soils, which can store more nutrients, can be applied twice a year, once at the beginning and once at the end of the rainy season. In indoor cultivation, fertilization takes place in spring and summer. In autumn-winter, with cold days and low temperatures, the coconut tree does not grow, so it is better not to fertilize.

Fertilization plan and method

The fertilizer application time is when there is enough moisture in the soil. In rainy conditions, apply fertilizer in two divided doses, 1/3 during the first rains of the southwest monsoon in April-June and 2/3 in September-October. Under watering conditions, apply three or four equal amounts of fertilizer in April-May, August-September, December and February-March.

Apply lime or dolomite in April-May, magnesium sulfate in August-September, and organic matter in June-July. An adult palm tree requires 1 kg of dolomite or 1 kg of lime + 0.5 kg of MgSO4 per year. Apply fertilizer and manure in circular basins 2.0 m in diameter and 10 cm deep from the base of the palm, which opens after the onset of the southwest monsoon. For mature coconut plantations, it is recommended to use MgSO4 at a rate of 500g/palm/year.

Boron deficiency can lead to characteristic deformities of the leaves, e.g. B. hooked leaves, nutcracker, dried female flowers, etc. Borax @ 50g/tree twice a month at monthly intervals, after the first symptom appears, cures the deficiency. In areas affected by root rot, 300 grams of borax per seed and 500 grams of borax per mature tree is recommended. The use of Magnesium @ 500g MgO per palm is beneficial for treating palms suffering from root wilt to restore palm strength and maintain yield.

Frequently Asked Questions About Coconut Fertilizer (FAQ)

Do coconut palms need fertilizer?

Coconut trees needed some important fertilizers. These palms are threatened by nitrogen deficiency, characterized by yellowing of the oldest leaves throughout the canopy.

What nutrients do coconut palms need?

Coconut palms need the macronutrients nitrogen, potassium, and potash, as well as micronutrients like magnesium and boron, to grow thick, green leaves and long, straight stems.

Why are my coconut leaves turning yellow?

Nitrogen deficiency is usually caused by insufficient nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen deficiency begins when the oldest leaves are uniformly light green in color/yellowing (uniform chlorosis). As the deficiency increases, younger leaves also discolour.

Credit: Alexander Spatari/Moment/GettyImages

When we think of Florida, a certain mood associates with the state: warm, beautiful and tropical landscapes with beautiful beaches and palm trees swaying in the breeze. In fact, the palm trees and palm fruit might be one of the best things about Florida. This is especially true of coconut palms, which produce coconuts that provide a range of products from moisturizing oils to coconut water. Coconuts in Florida are ripe according to the lifespan of the tree rather than a specific season.

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fruit of the coconut palm

The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera, USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11) is the most economically important palm because almost every piece of coconut can be used as a product somewhere. They are thought to have originated in the South Pacific or the Malay Archipelago, but because coconuts can swim for very long periods and new trees are still germinating at the end of the voyage, it’s hard for scientists to say. Coconut trees bear fruit until they are 80 years old, producing 50 to 200 coconuts per tree each year.

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This palm bears fruit by producing coconuts about 12 inches in diameter. These consist of the thick white meat in the husks, which is pressed into coconut oil and copra, and the water in the husk, which can be an attractive drinking product.

When are coconuts harvested?

The peak harvest time for products such as coconut oil or water varies within the time scale of coconut growth and maturation. Coconuts slowly ripen over the course of 12 months from fruit set.

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Coconut harvesting in Florida is actually year-round, as different trees bloom at different times. Florida’s climate is such that plants don’t only mature at certain times of the year, as is the case in some of the USDA’s colder climates.

If you want to harvest coconuts for the water inside, you should harvest them when they are around seven months old, as the water inside will be used up by the growing white flesh as the fruit continues to mature. Coconuts fall off the tree when they are fully ripe, meaning most of the coconuts on the ground are ready to be harvested. Some varieties of coconut continue to ripen after being dropped or picked.

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Determining if a coconut is ripe

There are a number of things you can check to see if a coconut is ripe, the most obvious being color. Immature coconuts start out as light green fruits and turn into that familiar hairy brown husk as they mature. While it’s difficult to tell intermediate stages of ripeness simply by color, the coconut isn’t ripe until the husk is completely brown.

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If you can grasp the fruit, you can shake it to get a measure of ripeness. If you hear a lot of water sloshing around inside the nut, you have an immature coconut, but you can still crack it open and drink the coconut water inside. If liquid is audibly sloshing around but is quieter, you have a coconut at a stage where its flesh is tender enough to eat with a spoon, leaving some water behind. If the nut sounds dry and hollow, you have a fully mature coconut.

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The easiest way to harvest coconuts is to wait for them to fall from the tree and pick them up off the ground. However, unripe fruit can also fall off for a variety of reasons. If it’s one of the coconut varieties grown to midget or midget size, you may be able to reach out to the coconuts yourself to assess them by gently moving them or tapping on the outside with a knuckle. Otherwise, you’ll need a very long set of pole pruners, a shovel cart, or the patience to wait for them to fall off.

5

Take baby steps. Try not to overdo it. If you put your foot too high or press too hard against your torso, it can be difficult to hold onto it with your hands.

To maximize your footing and mobility, only the ball of your foot and toes should be in contact with the tree.

With your arms outstretched and your body tilted back, you should have enough space between you and the tree to place your first foot on it. Place your foot at about hip height. Then, push with your leg while pulling toward the tree with your arms. Lift your opposite foot and position it on the torso over your first foot. At the same time, move your bottom hand up and grab the tree above your other hand. Repeat this action, using the balance created by pushing and pulling at the same time to stabilize yourself until you reach the top of the tree.

When faced with the task of hiring an arborist, customers often assume the tree climber is using spurs.

Spores have been used in forestry for many years. As the West Coast arboriculture industry is newer than forestry and many ex-foresters have started working in the urban environment, this is a common misconception.

However, spores damage trees by leaving wounds open to rot, pests, and disease. Spores should only be used on trees designated for removal. In the arboriculture industry, the accepted industry standard for climbing and moving around a tree is a method called spurless climbing.

Spurless climbing involves two dynamic rope systems that allow a person to move around the canopy and access every part of the tree, including the very tops of its branches. With this system it is possible to properly prune trees regardless of their size or location. (Learn more about why making proper cuts is important.) Spurless climbing allows the climber to position themselves to make the proper cuts without stretching, reaching, or using clumsy equipment like pole pruners and pole saws to have to.

In contrast, spurs do not allow the climber to reach all parts of the tree because the spur climber relies on his spurs to remain in the tree and therefore to be close to the trunk.

Companies that use spurs often circumvent this mobility problem through the use of ladders and truck-mounted cranes. Unfortunately, the arborist often cannot get close enough to make proper cuts, even with ladders and a loading crane. Large shovel wagons have limited range. They cannot drive into trail systems, tight spots or delicate undergrowth plants in parks, and they do not allow the arborist access to all parts of the tree canopy.

As the leaves fall, the beautiful, spreading branches of deciduous trees are revealed. Although spurless climbing is suitable for all trees, this time of year provides an excellent opportunity to observe the natural form of deciduous trees and gives an idea of ​​how a spurless climber might get around a vast canopy. A spurless climber can move around the tree using their hands and feet, relying on their harness, ropes, and other gear. The harness has a seat (similar to a window cleaner’s harness) as opposed to a traditional forest-style belt that requires the climber to rest all of their weight on their spurs. With this system it is possible to properly prune trees regardless of their size or location.

Spurless climbing is fast, effective, safe and does not affect the health of the tree.

To protect the health and longevity of your trees, GROW Tree Care arborists specialize in spurless climbing. Whether you have young trees or mature trees, we prune them professionally, quickly and safely with minimal impact on tree health.