Making trees infertile

NedWood

Hi, I needed palms for my large patio because they let in the sun in the winter and give shade in the hot summer. Because I'm in a frost area I had to settle for cocas palms which have just got big enough to start seeding. The flying foxes are a pest and the seeds seem to be endless. They are now too high for me to prune and tree loppers are very expensive. Is there any way that we can water the trees with a solution that would make them stop seeding. If not would some tree scientists think about it. I'm sure the flying fox lovers would thank you as much as I would.....Cheers

Eric Frei

The is no APVMA label that allows for such.

Google a product Yanks use called Florel, but I really think it will be hard to prevent fruiting on a palm due to timing .... the same product also is a fruit ripener and used to help certain trees loosen their nuts (like walnuts) for harvesting. They apply 1 week before harvest and the nuts drop off the trees a lot easier when they rattle them. Maybe the macadamia nut growers should run some tests.

There's other palms that are also cold tolerant (sabal, palmetto, Bismarck) but they all get seeds.

The Bismarck is real big in ya face stunning palm, hardly ever do I cut them down, they have no barbs on the fronds but the edges are sharp and do not grow as fast as cocos.

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