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.