I hope it's OK that I post this here.. I have a huge mango tree in my very small garden and it produces a lot of fruit.. which I have no use for. The problem is that a lot of hooligan kids in the area keep throwing rocks at it trying to drop some mangoes.. and many times they hit a window and it breaks. I've tried everything to solve this problem, but nothing seems to work with these kids. So, my question is... is there anything I can do to this tree to, more or less, kill it and make it not produce any fruit without cutting it down or have it fall over and end up hitting a car or something? Basically, I want the tree to stay standing, but not produce any fruit.. or maybe produce bad fruit so that it wouldn't draw all these kids to it?

I hope someone has some solution for this problem!

Hisham

Spray a chemical hormonal fruit eliminator such as Ethephon on the tree. Ethephon does not harm the leaves or blossoms so you will still have a flowering tree. You should spray the tree each year when it blossoms to prevent fruit from growing.

Randy

Thanks for the idea, Randy.. I'll ask around and see if I can find something like that here.

Anyone know of a method using simple household chemicals or something like that? I'd appreciate any ideas

Hisham

Just erect a net to stop the stones, and give the little darlings a smack around the ear when yoiu catch them.

I wish it were that easy, Darren

And even if I were able to catch one of them, I wouldn't dare slap him because he could very well come back with his father, or some friends and shoot me.. literally.. and I'm not exaggerating!

Hisham

If Egypt is anything like Turkey, invite the local cops around for a drink or a snack and your problem will be dealt with.

Well, that was possible in the old Egypt when there WERE cops around Now, the whole police force is busy running around after the Brotherhood crazies with their homemade bombs.. they have no time for normal crimes anymore

Hisham

tell the kids that for a small amount of money they can pick all your fruit. You have some money, kids have fruit, your windows don't break anymore

I'm with CMOT with the netting so you don't have to actually kiil or stun the tree. However, if this is not an option, then white vinegar systematically poured around the soil at the 'drip line' will stun this tree if not kill it eventually

Motion sensor and a scare gun, similar to what we have around our grape vines. The ratbag kids will be too embarrassed by cleaning their pants to return !

best advice, so-far . . .