Prune to remove dead or dying fronds To remove potential fire hazards, especially near buildings or homes To increase visibility and safety near driveways or sidewalks To prevent damage to buildings or homes during high winds To remove fruit, seeds and flowers It’s generally best to wait until the spring to trim a palm. Never prune for purely cosmetic reasons or else you may risk damaging the tree.
Look for dead or dying fronds on the tree. Dying fronds appear brownish, yellow or white and are often wilted or hanging down. Look for potassium deficiency in your palm tree. Potassium deficient palms typically have yellow spotting on the oldest leaves. A potassium deficient palm tree should not be trimmed because this would result in additional fronds losing nutrients and turning yellow. If your tree is potassium deficient, supply the tree with additional potassium and wait at least a year to trim. [1] X Research source Look for broken fronds which should be removed before they are torn off and cause damage to the tree. Look for palm flowers and fruit stalks which use up energy and slow the growth of the tree. If there are no dead or dying fronds, broken fronds, flowers, or fruit stalks, your palm tree doesn’t need to be trimmed.
A serrated knife can be used to cut off fronds that are less than 1 inch in diameter. A knife is also useful for removing flower stalks from the tree. Large clippers or pruning sheers can be used to remove fronds slightly larger than 1 inch in diameter. A hand saw or pruning saw will make it easier to remove thicker, larger fronds from the tree. A chainsaw can be used to cut very large, very thick fronds, but extra precautions should be taken to ensure you don’t hurt yourself or the trunk of the tree. Make sure to clean all tools before you use them. Leftover dirt and sap may help spread soil-borne diseases. You can clean off dirt and rust with a wire-bristle brush, for example. [3] X Research source You can disinfect the tools with a household cleaner like Lysol, 70% alcohol, bleach, or disinfectant wipes. You can sharpen your blades with a whetsone, oilstone, or a bench grinder.
Step stools or a small ladder can be used for shorter trees. Extension ladders can be used to trim trees up to 15 feet (4. 6 m) in height. A bucket lift or cherry picker should be used to trim very tall trees. Climbing gear should be used by trained professionals only, and climbing spikes or cleats should never be used as they can damage the trunk and spread disease.
Palm fronds usually have very sharp spikes along their edges. Gloves will help protect your hands. Sawing and cutting sends small pieces of debris flying. Wear safety goggles to protect your eyes.
Look for someone with experience trimming palm trees. Make sure whoever you hire does not use gear that could damage the tree, such as climbing spikes or cleats.
Wipe any dirt or debris from your pruning gear. Sterilize the tools by placing them in a solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Take chainsaws apart and soak both the chain and bar. Let tools soak for 5 minutes. Rinse tools with clean water and allow them to air dry before using.
Check that your ladder, step stool or cherry picker is stable and that any climbing equipment you are using is secure. Ensure the tree is not being bent, punctured or otherwise damaged by the climbing equipment you are using. If you damage the trunk of your palm while pruning, the tree may not heal.
Mature fronds are found below the current year’s growth. It’s important to leave at least two rows (or more) of mature fronds. Begin at the bottom of the foliage and look for dead, dying or broken fronds. Use your pruning gear to remove dead or broken fronds from the trunk. Cut each frond at least 2 inches (5. 08 cm) from the trunk. Cutting too close to the trunk can damage the tree. Remove green fronds only if they hang at an angle below a line that is 90 degrees, or parallel. to the ground. Don’t prune fronds that are above this horizontal line as it can weaken the tree. [7] X Research source Never cut off the top, or crown, of the palm. The crown will not grow back and the tree will die. You do not need to prune self-cleaning palms such as King palms, Kentia palms, Jubaea palms or Chamadoreas. Their leaves fall off naturally as they die, making trimming unnecessary. If it is only necessary to trim a self-cleaning palm because of potential safety hazards. Trim dead fronds or the oldest fronds only.
Take the loose petiole (blade) between your fingers and pull gently. If the petiole does not come off easily, leave it.
Cut fruit and fruit stalks from the fronds or trunk and remove flower growth by hand. Fruit stalks and flowers should be removed as soon as they are visible.
Continue to wear gardening gloves as you clean up debris. Pick up any fallen fruit, flowers or seeds. Pests that can harm the tree are attracted to dropped seeds and fruit. Fallen fruit can also stain concrete and produce unpleasant odors, and the seeds can germinate in undesirable places. Consult your local waste disposal service department to find out how and where to dispose of palm debris.
