Post #538672 by AlohaStation on Thu, Jun 24, 2010 8:32 AM

I can relate. When I first bought my house in 1997, we acquired a few coconuts from my sister-in-law. With many other home improvement projects in-progress, the coconuts sat quietly on a shelf in garage. As the projects were finished things started stacking up on top of the coconuts and eventually a couple were thrown away. When I finally reached a point where the garage needed to be cleaned (1999?) I found a lonely coconut still sitting in same place. To my surprise the coconut had sprouted and started to grow while sitting on the shelf. I placed the nut in pot with some dirt and it continued its growth. It grew like crazy and eventually outgrew the pot. I placed the small tree in the ground in my backyard. It exploded! Now its 10 years later and I am looking at a 40'+ tree. It produces 3 garbage cans FULL of coconuts each summer - each coconut is same size and weight as a bowling ball. The issue I have is that the tree is looming over my house and has become too large for me to trim safely. Every hurricane season I stand at the base of the tree and wonder what will happen if we get hit by a strong storm. Unfortunately its days are numbered, but I feel like the tree is part of the family. Am I euthanizing a family member? I have taken a few coconuts from the tree and placed them in the wood shed with the hopes that the cycle of life will be repeated.

If anyone is interested in coconuts I have tree full and welcome anyone that would like to come and trim some off!

PS. I also have the same dilemma with a Washintonia Palm in my front yard. Started as a seedling and is now almost 50'+. That one will become several tikis so I'm in no hurry to cut it.