Our neighbor’s palm tree had a large colony of squirrels residing under its bark. He has a swimming pool and got tired of scooping palm tree bark pieces out of the pool. He had the tree scalped last week and all week long squirrels have sat on the fence and looked at the tree. I’m sure they are quite put out! It will be interesting when winter comes to see if the tree survives, now that it’s “coat” is gone.
Poor squirrels! It is a beautiful tree and I hope that it survives! Like how you put the 2 pictures together and the light in the pictures is beautiful!
I find myself feeling a little bad for the squirrels. I know they are a pest but bark in the pool seems to be a small price to pay for the entertainment they provide! I did not know you could do this to Palm trees and really appreciate the fact that you showed both pictures
I feel the poor tree is taking the punishment for the squirrels. I have a feeling if it does the bark and the squirrels will be back. Meanwhile I hope for your neighbors sake it doesn't dislike even more where they settle withought the palm.
...it's quite difficult to kill a palm! We've had them "popping up" in unexpected places around the yard, transplanted one...it's growing...and let another grow... There's every possibility that the squirrels carried in a seed to bury! I do love the sound the fronds make in a breeze, and they make gorgeous silhouettes in a photo!
@milaniet@taffy@ludwigsdiana@sarah19@pistache@gijsje@mittens@joansmor@grammyn@ingrid01 this palm’s “bark” is really just lopped off dead palm fronds. They prune them close to the trunk and there’s a lot of squirrel hiding places - till they are completely pruned off! This is the first major pruning - down to the trunk - that this tree has ever had. We do hope it will be okay, it is between our’s and our neighbor’s houses, so fairly protected. Thank you for your wonderful comments!
@louannwarren Oh I remember well the temperamental Texas weather!!! Out here, we have, what are called, The Fire Season, The Flood Season, The Mudslides and Earthquakes... and all the while, the temperatures are pretty temperate! Choose your poison!
Well this is a new one on me! I wouldn’t have expected squirrels in Texas for a start & then wouldn’t have thought they could stand the heat or that would be a tree they would climb....I learn something new every day.
@happypat oh we have squirrels everywhere here. They burrow up in the trees and when it gets cold they dig in my yard looking for the acorns and pecans they buried last season!
Looks rather drastic and hopefully it works. I'm surprised the squirrels don't climb it anyway- their claws/paws are pretty sharp. Nice work with the inset!
We call them booted palm trees, since the remaining portion of the frond is called a boot. Here, there are many in both camps. The University of Florida says there is no proof of harm but advises against it.
@louannwarren ...and there you have it! Sitting up in bed and reading last night at 11:40 when "the noise and the shaking began"!... Can't believe I just wrote you about this only 8-10 hours before!!! That's the way we "roll"!!! Let the Earthquake Season begin!