Is there an easy way to clean up seeds mess already on the ground?

[R J]

We have a place in Palm Springs, CA and just had a company come and clean up the seed pods on our palm trees (should've been done a while ago). However, they left an enormous mess around our property. There are seeds everywhere and we can't even walk around our house without tracking this crud inside. Why they didn't lay tarps down I'll never know. The nice white and light colored rock we recently laid down (to mitigate dust) is now covered in this crap.  

A rake is useless and a blower doesn't really do much either unless I turn it way up but then it just blows the rocks around, too. 

What course of action would you suggest (other than trimming earlier in the year)? Is there an easy way to clean up the seeds? How long before they decay & disappear?

[Fusca]

I don't know of any good way to clean up those Washingtonia seeds - they'll just germinate in a few months. 

Edited November 21, 2022 by Fusca

[R J]

Hi @Fuscathanks for offering to help  How realistic is it that the seeds turn into new palm trees? Also, is there something we can do to prevent germination?

Edited November 21, 2022 by R J

[Silas_Sancona]

Washingtonia ( Mexican, and California Fan Palms ) seeds will germinate very easily  if they get enough moisture..  and will grow into new specimens fairly quickly if not removed while young.

..Considered weeds by many here and there in California.  Seed tends to be long lived as well...  Have had 2+ yr old seed germinate under the right conditions here in Arizona..  Things are so tough that they can germinate in pavement / sidewalk cracks, or even rain gutters.

While it might be a tedious task, i wonder if using a wet/ dry Shop Vac might work for getting up as much of the seed as possible.. Can always use a narrow-mouthed attachment to limit how much gravel might get sucked up along with the seeds..

[aztropic]

You might try spraying with a pre emergent,but there is no other good way to clean up all those seeds other than to let them germinate over winter,then spray the new patch of 'grass' with roundup. They will probably come up by the thousands with the winter rains.

July is a good time to get the tree trimmed,and all the flower stalks can be removed at that time so no seeds are formed.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona