Queen Palms

[mikewhite85]

How far up should one trim the layers on Queen Palms? I had thought that you should only take the flaps off that can be easily torn back but I have this client who swears it's fine to take them off all the way to the top. She is one of those ladies who is really hard to please. To me, it seems like cutting them out before they are ready is like ripping the bark off a tree. On the same token, I have seen some Queen Palms that were skinned nearly all the way to the top and do not seem unhealthy.

Know of any resources on trimming palms? I have lived in Socal for about a year and a half now and am still getting used to them. They are not my favorite but I am still blessed to have the work.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate the wisdom!

 

[rarefish383]

I'm back East, in MD, and know nothing of Palms. I've been watching the posts in the "fatalities" forum, and was astounded by the climbers that have been killed pruning Palms. If you're new to the area and practice of pruning Palms, please check out those threads, and be careful, Joe.

 

[EdenT]

Not my favourite job but ......

There is plenty of info out there. My own rule of thumb is that the petiole bases come off when they are ready and not before. I don't mind snicking a few fibres with my hand saw but if they are any more difficult, then the tree has not finished 'compartmentalizing' the petiole base. Usually the difficult to remove ones are because the palm leaf was not removed correctly in the first place. You need to place the cut as close to the petiole base as possible when removing the leave to encourage dessication and compartmentalization at the trunk. If it's done right they will come right off in your hand the next year when you prune them again. Try and get the customers into a regular pruning program ideally getting them at the end of spring so you can remove the flower/ seed pods before they drop their little parcels of misery everywhere. Here's a relevant bit of info I found on the net...

Some info

Incidentally, to those not familiar with palms, the Queen or Cocos palm, Syagrus romanzoffiana is pretty much the most benign palm to deal with. No spikes and no falling skirts. Usually plenty of ants, and when flowering plenty of bee's. The main problems associated with them is that their nitric acid bearing flesh eats aluminum chainsaw parts but good. Always worth hosing out your saw if you use it on one of these. I never use a chainsaw to prune these. A handsaw is more than adequate and a lot safer for those overhead cuts.

Stay Safe

 

[jefflovstrom]

There is plenty of info out there. My own rule of thumb is that the petiole bases come off when they are ready and not before. I don't mind snicking a few fibres with my hand saw but if they are any more difficult, then the tree has not finished 'compartmentalizing' the petiole base. Usually the difficult to remove ones are because the palm leaf was not removed correctly in the first place. You need to place the cut as close to the petiole base as possible when removing the leave to encourage dessication and compartmentalization at the trunk. If it's done right they will come right off in your hand the next year when you prune them again. Try and get the customers into a regular pruning program ideally getting them at the end of spring so you can remove the flower/ seed pods before they drop their little parcels of misery everywhere. Here's a relevant bit of info I found on the net...

Some info

Incidentally, to those not familiar with palms, the Queen or Cocos palm, Syagrus romanzoffiana is pretty much the most benign palm to deal with. No spikes and no falling skirts. Usually plenty of ants, and when flowering plenty of bee's. The main problems associated with them is that their nitric acid bearing flesh eats aluminum chainsaw parts but good. Always worth hosing out your saw if you use it on one of these. I never use a chainsaw to prune these. A handsaw is more than adequate and a lot safer for those overhead cuts.

Stay Safe

Ditto.
Jeff

 

[Bermie]

One of the best resources for palms is the University of Florida website, ifas...

Rule of thumb, trim palm leaves to horizontal...old fronds help support newer ones...removing too many fronds can lead to a narrowing of trunk diameter, and palms translocate nutrients from old decaying fronds into the newew ones, removing too many at one time can deplete resources...typical for us here is potassium deficiency...made worse by removing too many old leaves.

Palms should be 'lollypops' not 'feathers on a pimple'...