Palm / L.A. -what's this square?

[M.D. Vaden]

On some palms I saw in L.A., a few squares were cut in the trunks at a few feet off the ground, and higher up to, like 15 to 30 above the ground. In a downtown area.

Looks like they were cut out, and put back in place.

What is this practice for - ideas?

 

[clearance]

Hiding drugs?

 

[jomoco]

My best guess is that a sneaky palm transplanting contractor was trying to hide damage to the date palms caused by the previous tree's owner installing flood lights on the trunks. The damaged squares are about the same size as the electrical conduit boxes put on trees to supply power to the lights that I've seen many times in the past.

I'll bet it was a relatively new development project with transplanted old mature palms.

Other than that it seems pretty mysterious and puzzling to me.

jomoco

 

[M.D. Vaden]

My best guess is that a sneaky palm transplanting contractor was trying to hide damage to the date palms caused by the previous tree's owner installing flood lights on the trunks. The damaged squares are about the same size as the electrical conduit boxes put on trees to supply power to the lights that I've seen many times in the past.

I'll bet it was a relatively new development project with transplanted old mature palms.

Other than that it seems pretty mysterious and puzzling to me.

jomoco

That's possible - there are power outlets near the base.

So maybe they cut the bark out of another palm that was removed and saved a piece to cosmetically bandage a bad spot.