We have two Washington Palms (at least 30 ft high) in front of our home that we would like to have removed. We like them, just not where they are….we see the unpleasant part of the tree (the stump). Do you know of a local company that can remove and resell them?
Palm Tree Trimming
Palm Tree Trimming And Pruning
To insure the overall health and growth of your palm trees, it is important to trim and prune them the right way. Improper palm tree trimming can have a devastating affect and will severely injure the tree.
If trimming palm trees is done incorrectly diseases such as “Fusarium Wilt” can be transmitted. It can cause the tree to reduce vermin needed for health. Palm trees will have problems during the winter if pruning palm trees is not done the right way.
Proper Palm Tree Trimming
When trimming palm trees, always remove the dead or damaged leaves, plus the fruit and flower stalks. How much to remove depends on if the tree has any nutrient deficiencies or it has none. If the palm tree is nutrient deficient, Do Not trim off leaves that are not completely dead. If it is not nutrient deficient and has a full canopy which is green from the top to bottom, Do Not remove new healthy leaves that are growing. When palm tree trimming is done it is important to trim as little as possible for proper growth.
If there are signs of diseases on a palm tree when trimming, always sterilize the tools used before palm tree trimming is done on the next tree. This will avoid transmitting the disease to the other trees. I recommend using Pine-Sol® to clean and disinfect the tools with a brush. Simply, fill a bucket with water and Pine-Sol®.
The active ingredient in the Original Pine-Sol® Brand Cleaner is real pine oil. It’s the pine oil that gives this product its amazing cleaning power. A good ratio is, (2-parts Pine-Sol®, to 1-part water). Just scrub the tools you used such as a chainsaw or pruning shears, excessively covering all areas that came in contact with the tree.
How To Trim Palm Trees
During palm tree trimming never trim off live leaves that are on an angle originating above the horizon. In other words… imagine a horizontal line from 9:00 to 3:00. When removing leaves, cut the bases close to the trunk but not so close to where it is into the trunk which will damage the tree. Never pull or tear off leaves by hand that come off easily, because it can cause wounds on the trunk making points of entry for diseases. However,the Boots should be pulled off and not cut using a chainsaw for this can damage the trunk.
When To Trim Palm Trees
It is always important to trim palm trees only when needed for constant palm tree trimming can cause damage. Constant trimming leads to weakening of the tree and can eventually cause it to die. Do Not have a mass removal of healthy green fronds, even if it seems more convenient so one does not have to prune it for a long time again. Plus, never use climbing spikes to climb up the tree. They leave holes which will only make it easier and more susceptible for diseases and insects to get inside the tree.
Many times trimming palm trees is done incorrectly. It often leads to problems that can eventually destroy the tree. It is very costly to remove or replace established palm trees. Proper palm tree trimming will keep palms growing healthy, giving that tropical appearance in a landscape.
Kurt Kmetz
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10 comments - add yours
Stephanie
September 25, 2009
Kurt
September 26, 2009
Hi, Stephanie
I don’t know where you live so i advise you to call the local extension service in your area for a landscaping company that handles removal. Most companies will buy them if they can remove a palm that size intact and reuse them. They are large and established so I don’t know what agreement they will offer you. Hope you find what you are looking for.
Thank You, Kurt
Edna M Fazio
June 26, 2010
Our Pony Tail Palm (in a large pot) has been doing well until this past winter with the extreme cold. The top is coming back, but there are new growths lower on the trunk sprouting out. Should I remove these or leave them along?
JoAnn Peterson
July 8, 2011
I have a eureka palm and it is growing too tall in front of my front porch. I want to trim off the top of palm but my husband said it will kill the plant. What can I do to shorten it?
Kurt
July 13, 2011
JoAnn,
Trimming off the top of your palm will probably do harm to it. There is a good chance it will have problems from severe pruning.
Palm trees are not like hedges where they can be trimmed down to shorten them. There is no guaranty it will survive.
Kurt
David Dante
October 2, 2011
Say,
I’m in Houston & I have Mexican Palms of various heights. I have been keeping them trimmed by only cutting the dead dropping leaves. I saw cut, by hand, the dead palm stalk just above the split in the “Whale’s Tail”. As the tree grows these tails will split & can either be pulled away or they will fall off. My question is should the tree trunks be scraped as well? Will these dead palm leaves hurt my trees when the tree is too tall for me to reach?
David
Kurt
October 3, 2011
David,
Do not scrape the tree trunk for that can result in trunk wounds.Trunk wounds can serve as entry points for diseases. When removing leaves cut leaf bases close, but not into the trunk. Do not attempt to pull off leaves that will come off easily, this can also cause trunk wounds. Let the tails fall off. The dead leaves that you cannot reach should eventually fall off, but will take some time. They should not hurt the tree.
Kurt
craig mayer
October 19, 2011
Hi
Hi,
I have two Canary Date Palms approx. 15 ft of wood. Recently my landscaper trimmed these trees (pineappled) and now one tree is in very bad shape. I feel he butchered them and caused the tree to go into shock. I have been actively maintaining all my trees with ameri choice tree service with periodic fungal soil drenches as well as fertilization on set intervals. Since the trimming about 70 % of the fronds are brown and dying.(17 days ago to current), so I feel Fusirium Wilt can be ruled out due to quickness of the destruction.
Please help with wisdom and advice I feel
Kurt
October 21, 2011
Craig,
Have you contacted your landscaper? Is he insured? Does he have experience trimming palm trees? They have to be done the right way or damage can be done to the palm. Did he trim palm trees from another location and used the same saw to trim yours, and did not (sterilize ) the saw before he used it to trim yours? If he did not disease can be transmitted that way. To be sure if it is from the trimming contact your local county extension service, you could probably take a picture of it and email it to them and they will respond to you.
Kurt
David Dante
October 24, 2011
Craig,
I agree with all Kurt advised. To reinforce your thoughts; yes, the one doing the cutting may not have been qualified to perform that operation. I would pursue the Landscaping Company until satisfied.
