Question
We have 9 palm trees planted around our pool. Some but not all grow what can turn into large seed pods. If I do not cut them off before they split they explode with seeds and fall into the pool, of course as the trees get taller they become more difficult to reach. Is there any way to "neuter" a palm tree so these seed pods will not appear?

Answer
Hi Brian, if there was a way, the palm trimmers down here in south Florida would be in the unemployment line; what you can do however, is nip it in the bud sort of speak, when the pod begins to grow it starts out like a large ear of corn, this is when you snip it off, because the next step is that little ear of corn turns into a huge elephant trunk that opens to an inflorescence and subsequently the seed pod you described. Bottom line "nip it in the bud!" regards Nick