Canery Island date palm...?..

[Derek]

Heres the thing...

I have never pruned a palm in my life, removed stacks of them in Brisbane years ago ..They just dont normally grow in these parts..
(or no one tries)
Theres one in my local town and it's to the top of a second story building, with a diamiter of a metre or so..(base)

I Am going to prune all the dead fonds off and try to shape it ,
sort of square, (I ve seen them done square before, they look great)..

From what I remember the (cocos) palms ive removed before get spike marks all over them..Granted no care was taken, they were coming down..This palm could be worth 25 grand, ive seen them transplanted to entrances/resorts before and are worth a fortune...

In all my books, the only mention to pruning a palm is from France, the men are on ladders, and have a hooked type cutting tool..

I started this an hour ago, just went and got a pic of the tree from the customer...

I was sending the artical, but this is better..

Not 100% on the name, but it will be close..

Does spiking up this sort of tree hurt it?
the outside looks like it will hide marks cause its rough, smooth palms wouldent let me get away with it!

I can see (by the books) the ladders are tied on ,so are the men,
I make such an issue round here about the dangers of ladders...

Heres the other thing!..

If I do it from a ladder,(no getting a life line over the tree?)..
Ill need to do it secretly, Is this the only acceptable time to use a ladder?.E.W.P (elevated work platform) would be the go but dont have one, not getting one...

Some advice from the palm prunners would be great, Ill post this and try to find "Palazzo Versace Resort" (Gold coast)..It should show what I want as the finished prouduct..I think there the same tree..Back soon...Derek..

 

[Derek]

Gold Coast Canerys

Hmmmm..Can't get the shot I want, so for those interested ill send the link to the site...

http://palazzoversace.com/

I'm not getting results from the shearch engine, I dont even know if its real..I think its a pop up, never had it there before..
(now I got screens that wont close EVERYWHERE)..

You know what , its getting to the point I might HAVE to get a lesson on this thing...soon..(at least learn to get some of it on disk, incase it does get a virus)

Could someone find me a pic of a "square" one? ...


Thanks in advance..Derek..

Oh,and I stuck in the book reference as well...Hpoe it comes out..

 

[TimberMcPherson]

You can gaff them and it doesnt seem to do them any harm although a ladder and a pruning saw on a pole (as well as a flipline so you can lean out a bit) work quite well, just bear in mind that if the spikes from the palm get you theres a VERY high chance of getting an infection from them. Dont cut directly above you, cut a path and kinda corkscrew you way around. I have to admit I have only done a few of them, the ladder would be my choice but other guys such as Koa or guys from Florida might have better ideas.

Whatever you use to trim it, clean it carefully afterwards as they are made from nasty things.

 

[Derek]

Thanks for the tip Timber..

The spikes on them are 2' long, looks like ill be wearing gloves (bout time I wore em in)..

And I saw a couple of saws eaten away by the palms in Brisbane.
Very nasty stuff in them..

The Cork screw was one of my first ideas but on a ladder it becomes very time consuming, on spikes it will be quicker.

It really is a beautifull tree, and the only one of its kind for hundreds of K's..Theres lots of new top growth( spring here)
and cant wait to expose it.

I think (despite lack of photo) most will know what I mean by square..My other thought is to stay in one spot, trim it, then "shape" it on the angel I want...

Heres another shot , more so when I post the "after" shots you can have a chance to see your imput at work!..

Now wheres them Florida boys?...

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

No Cambium to violate with climber spikes, but then; no closure either. Wound portals are permanent, unclosed violations. Palm needles are usually a modified leaf were it didn't get sun, thus intowards base, they come lots longer than 2", and can take out an eye; especially as the pivot over towards you still connected as you cut.

Dead fronds only remove, dead at connection, so tissue on end isn't 'conducting' water/live, where it can bring disease in from wound. Fronds should die in a few days, from green to brown bending over; if they take longer, die in spots, tips, curl up etc. something is wrong.

This can even be palm translocating needed elements from storage in fronds, that it is lacking from ground. Over watering can make shallower rooting, rinse out trace elements. Nitrogen can push plant too fast and make the balance of the less adequate available nutrients even more noticeable.

Palms are already grass on steroids, and will grow quick enuff on own. If top or stalk gets sour smell, it is probably gone. Same with lower stalk conks (that should have baggy palced over them and snapped off so as not to flood with more spores).

 

[Koa Man]

We use extension ladders to go up as high as we can, then spike the rest and use spikes to move around the top. My advice is to past on this job, unless you are already committed and/or don't have other work to take its place. Make sure you bid high. The amount of time and debris you can get out of a date palm is very deceiving. I once bid $285 on a single date palm about 20 ft. tall with dried fronds hanging half way down. It was a money loser. $500 would have been a fair price for that job. The spikes on a date palm frond will go through that leather glove like it wasn't even there. I had them go through my leather boots when the frond just hinged over as I was cutting it. I even tried using welding gloves once, same thing, needles go right through it. That being said and the fact that I hate to use gloves when climbing, I don't use any gloves when trimming date palms. I use a chainsaw to cut and my handsaw to push the frond I am cutting away.

 

[rumination]

What KoaMan said. I hate pruning date palms. Prepare to bleed!

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Sometimes; i cut from top with handsaw and let frond lean over to hit brain bucket, then cut free to slide off and behind me sometimes pitching head back slightly to kick frond out futher.

If it isn't too far from ladder to top, you can choke in a few slings for foot/hand holds; for steps. Choke high and tight enough, you can even hang a rope with loops/etriers, for steps, then invert etrier to another choker when you hit top of that, but slow going. if you wish to invert again to another story, you must make sure the first/now bottom choker is 'off'.

:alien:

 

[Derek]

going for it!

Thanx everyone, I can't help but love this place, allways exelent advice...

I'm on my way to do it, as wrapped up as I can and still move!
I hope I can get the fronds to "swing" away like I can on trees.

Should be an interesting if not painfull experence..

I reading all that (several times, thanx Kenn) As nice as they are to look at, sorta, kinda glad we DONT have any more to deal with!

How often does the owner get it done?, I told hime once a year , but also told him that was a guess,

Sorta , kinda hope its more like 5 years now i know I under priced it!

Still tring to get a grip on priceing formulas now I'm on my own, just out or interest, what would YOU charge for pruining it?

Just the climbing/cutting component, no rubbish removel/ tip fees etc..

Post it here or PM me with it, I wont tell anyone eles!

I'll remember to get some shots for you...(might get in the running for "hack of the year" yet..lol..

 

[Frans]

Cut the big fronds into two pieces so the final section closest to the stem is about 2'-3' long. This final section of the frond can be handled easily thus reducing the chance of getting a hole through your body from the spikes. Make your first cut on each frond about 2-3' from the stem, then make your final cut close to the stem. Let the end of each frond fall to the ground but handle each final section sos to reduce the chance of getting a spike in your body
Nasty things Date Palms. Prune the head up to the fronds hanging above the vertical, remove everything below. DONT cut the center out as this will kill the palm. Remove any seed clusters/flowers, the pole pruner works good for this.
Frans

 

[a_lopa]

you could always buy that ht75 LOL dummy bidding failed us hey derek LMFAO

 

[Derek]

Repreive!

Go figure, Toni has to cover for a freind at work, I went to tell the customer, they have had people drop in on them...

The tree stays as is till the morning (monday)..

The afternoon with the kids, unreal!

Thanks Frans I thought you Californians would have some tips..
Palms everywhere from what I remember of it..

Hey Aussie hang on to it for me, I do want it!..You couldent let it go at that to a STRANGER...As I have the rest of your old gear (real cheap) might as well keep the polie in the kitt too..lol..

Ill send you a PM..

 

[Florida16]

Well, being from Florida, I am (pretty) good at trimming palms.
I have climbed a few of these Canery Islands. Nothing that tall but about 10 foot, high enough to climb and be off the ground anyways. How I always did it was used my climbing line, hooked one end to my saddle, then put a prusik hitch at about 10' of length. I used the line for a lanyard that would hit all the way around the palm, then resized it to fit right. I got up on a ladder and then used spikes once I got to where I needed to be.
I wrapped my "lanyard" around it and start my saw. From there it's easy. Just cut the fronds to the right of you and keep sliding the lanard to the left as you go, always cutting on your right.
See, that diameter and the "boots" as I like to call them keep you from being able to flip your "lanyard" up and go higher. That doesn't mean that you can't slide it though. Just keep going around in circles until you get it trimmed up lookin' like a mushroom.

Get your money.
End

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Tying a riggin line to a high clump of fronds can be used for speedlining weighty seed pods over plants below on occasion; especially if countering support load with body weight to opposite direction.

Well placed/fallen initial fronds can give blockaded for the rest of fronds doing damage, especially using their slickness at an angle.

 

[Derek]

Shes all done!

Once agian AS come through!!

Thanx for all the imput guys, (my shout) Went real well, had it over with in just under two hours, and the customer is realy happy ..

What you think of it, will be a mystery till tommorow night..
The Lady of the house was to have emailed a shot she took on her camera, its not here yet, I got some shots on film (3 weeks later..) of the finished prouduct...


What I dident know was how hard it is to get your spikes out!
Man, wasent gunna slip thats for sure..I thought about a ladder...
3 steps up I came back down and got the ladder, at least I wouldent get spike marks on the first 4m...

I started on the house side, and found it to be very moist, dirty and almost rotten under the fallen fronds..I did a lap to see if it was allover, it wasent, I put it down to the lack of sunlight even wind(BTW, that photo I posted was 2 years old when the place was for sale,It was alot worse on the house side)

Hand fulls of dirt and "scales" , chuncks of frond and all sorts of fibers came out (house side) When it stopped was pretty much my hight to work with..
I went round to my right (thanks Chad), got the fronds all off, (barely a scratch, [I said "barely"}), but found I had to go round to my left to "shape it", the dogs are in the way on the 625 Jonsered (way to cheap aussie!)..

The new home owner had all the trash on his truck, I was about to leave and saw I'd missed a bit...Owner couldent see it, but up I went again and trimmed it!...

I did the extra bit for, Kenn,Timber,Koa,Leon,Fl16,and Frans...
he of course had know idea...I wanted to thank them for their part in the palm!! (Dident even mention the pole saw Jason That would of been to easy, couldent charge him the fee I did!....

 

[Koa Man]

Glad you got it done Derek. Now you can come help me and/or the Florida guys trim some coconut palms.

 

[Derek]

cool Koa, love to!!

But have you seen how many gum trees WE have?...
Its Dawn( here) Ive got 5 gums to "make safe" today...

When you see them (two are ringbarked) You'll want ALL the palm trees to yourself.....

Its going to take 1 1/2 hours to get to the top of one of them...

(well nearly!) The ringbarked ones are SOOOOO close to everything...Hmmmmm......Derek,,,

 

[Florida16]

Wow, Maybe I can actually help you all out on somethings. Hehe, yeah I ve alot of experience in palms and oaks. Just never ask me about tiger palms (real name is something like washentonia palms or something like that). The only time I have fell out of a tree was a tiger palm, they have the thorns on the "boots".
Fell 20' and landed on a concrete driveway, 3 minutes later I as back up in the next one trimming it up, but I have hated them ever since!

 

[Derek]

Hey Chad...

Yes, the advice( from EVERYONE ) was cool, goes to show your never to old to learn somthing eles...For me it was palms...

Bet the advice tackeling the big gums down under from me would be good too...

I tend to speacialize in Eucs 601 varieties in Austrailia...
Some of the strongest, and the weekest trees, all get put in the same classification..

They all have different charictureisticks(?)...some "swing" for you, others you can spear cut, some just fall, Then you have the "Stringy barks"...can be leathel if you dont cut the side fibers...

Sorry , dident get the digital shots yet? of yesterdays quick palm..

I will ring her, and try to get them on tonight..

Cheers guys ..Derek...

 

[Derek]

I branded a few around the place this morning.

This still isn't the end shot, must have more on another roll?..