Palm Tree Pruning Advice
When thinking about Florida landscapes, palm trees are at the forefront of what makes Florida different than northern states. These majestic plants are truly unique, and require care that is very different than other trees.
Proper pruning of palm trees is probably the most misunderstood aspect of palm care and maintenance. As a general rule, prune only dead fronds off palms. Fronds that are yellow or transitioning between green and brown should be left on until completely dead.
If you absolutely must prune fronds that are not dead, ensure that you do not prune any fronds beyond a 90 degree angle with the trunk. In other words, do not prune any fronds upward of the 3:00 & 9:00 positions on a clock. Additionally, it is very important that pruning tools are disinfected between palm trees to reduce the chance of disease transmittal. Soaking pruning tools for 15 minutes in a 1:1 solution of a disinfectant product (for example, Pine-Sol) and water may be sufficient.
Properly-Pruned Queen Palm
This Queen Palm is pruned properly. Note the 90 degree angle between the lowermost fronds and the trunk. If you look closely, the Queen Palms in the far back lower corner of the picture is severely over-pruned.
Over-Pruned Queen Palm
This Queen Palm is severely over-pruned. Note the fronds were removed far above the 90 degree angle with the trunk. This Queen Palm will likely struggle with deficiencies in Potassium and micronutrients for years to come, and is more likely to get attached by Palm Weevils. Certain important palm tree diseases are also more likely to infect over-pruned palm trees such as this one.
Another common dilemma regarding the maintenance of palm trees is how to reach fronds of tall palm trees. The recommended way to reach high fronds is with a tall ladder or a lift. Never climb a palm tree with spiked shoes or pole-climbing spikes, as the resulting injury to the palm will not heal.
Proper pruning of palms is important for sound physiological development of the tree and proper nutrient allocation to new growth. Additionally, improper pruning is a primary contributor to transmission of several important diseases of palm trees, including Thielaviopsis Trunk Rot and Fusarium Wilt.
For much more information about proper pruning of palm trees, please review the University of Florida document titled Pruning Palms by clicking here.