Safer Step Ladder

[rgsparber]

I own a rather tall palm tree. Twice a year I must cut the fronds off the top. Being a rank novice on palm trees, I stupidly fertilized and watered it. Surprise, surprise - the damn thing grows! I am now faced with the problem that my 20' pole saw no longer reaches those fronds. In fact, I am no longer able to reach them with my 6' step ladder and pole saw. It was a bit dicey anyway because the ground around the base of this palm is not level. Well, now I need to use my 8' step ladder and having a solid base is essential. I solved the problem by building a frame. The ends that support the feet of the ladder are made of 4x4s about 3' long. I then used 2x4s about 7' long to form a frame. I then drilled a 5/8" hole in each corner about 4" deep. Into each hole went a 6" length of threaded rod with a nut on it. A washer was placed between a nut and wood. The other end of each threaded rod was welded to a 2" x 2" plate. I can now adjust the 4 nuts to level the frame. Then I put on the big step ladder and use straps to secure the lowest rung to the 4x4s. Nice and solid.