A SHAKY ladder and a not-so-reliable picking stick could be a recipe for disaster when you have sweet juicy mangoes tempting you to reach for the tree tops this summer.

Regional growers say there are easy ways to get mangoes from the tree and into the palm of your hand.

The Murphy family, who grow mangoes in Sarina, have their own hand-picking system.

Wayne Murphy uses a long pole, used for pool equipment, which has a bit of wire attached to the end to snap the stems, while his children stand below the trees, ready to catch the fruit.

"It's very labour intensive," Mr Murphy said.

"(The kids) are pretty good at cricket too!"

Sarina mango grower Brian Camilleri prunes his mango trees so the fruit is always within arm's reach.

However, for those with a mango tree at home, he said there was always the option of buying a specially designed mango picking stick, that comes with a cutter and drop bag, from hardware stores.

There are also plenty of options for making your own picking stick.

Drilling and attaching a large tin, such as an empty Milo tin, to the end of a broom stick will also help to get those mangoes down.