PRUNING PALMS
SUMMARY OF EXPERT ADVICE FROM REFERENCE SOURCES

 

PRUNING

GREEN FRONDS --  Do not remove any green fronds, especially above horizontal.

YELLOW FRONDS -- Avoid removing.  These still feed the plant.

BROWN FRONDS --  OK to remove if desired.

FLOWERING STALKS AND SEED PODS -- OK to remove if desired.

·       Palm canopies should be at least "9 o'clock" to "3 o'clock".

·       Never remove more than one-third of the fronds at a time.

 


OVER-PRUNING

·       "Hurricane Cut" should never be done as a maintenance procedure on any palm.

·       "Hurricane Cut" is a code violation in Broward County, defined as "tree abuse".

·       Can cause abnormal narrowing and weakening of the trunk called "Pencil Top"

·       "Pencil Top" trunk can snap in windstorms creating a dangerous missile.

·       Can increase flowering which can stress the palm.

·       Weakens support for other fronds.

·       Reduces resistance to insects, which can kill the palm.

 


REASONS NOT TO PRUNE

·       Pruning reduces shade, and increases need for irrigation near the tree.

·       Palms don't need yearly pruning.  Once every 5 years might be reasonable.

·       No evidence that removing green fronds reduces future pruning.

·       Older fronds are still useful to protect the plant.

·       Fronds live for many years.

·       Pruning reduces shelter and food for wildlife.

 


REASONS TO PRUNE

·       To change appearance.

·       Reduce risk of falling fronds or petioles.

·       Reduce messiness of fruit and reduce seedlings around the plant.

 


FACTS ABOUT PALM TREES

·       Vascular system is like a column of sticks.

·       Vascular bundles must last the lifetime of the palm.

·       Woody trunks are a composite of leaf bases and vascular bundles.

·       Trunks cannot heal if punctured or damaged.

·       Palms have one growing point at the base of the crown.

·       If the growing point is destroyed, the plant dies.

·       When growing, the trunk widens first.

·       Fronds live for many years.

·       Older leaves transfer energy to the bud allowing healthier new leaves.