Palm Trunk Trimming

[Brian K]

Hi,

I'm a new member who has very limited knowledge on palms in general, but I am

working at that. Just wish I found this forum earlier, so bear with my ignorance.

Anyway, I am a northerner (US) that purchased a home in NW Cape Coral FL a year ago and

only visit FL four times a year (a week or so each time). I will be going down this week and

I would like to attend to the health and maintenance of the palms I planted.

I have a service fertilize all my trees quarterly, but trimming is where my question is.

I realize that I should not trim fonds that have any sign life or that have been

damaged by the cold. My question is can and how I trim the trunks of my Phoenix Sylverstris and

Ribbon Palm to look like a neighbors? I know my palms are much smaller, but should I start doing

some trimming now?

Also, It looks like (via security cameras) the some of the living fonds of the Foxtail palm I planted

last September are dropping. I may have more info on this later this week when I arrive and inspect things.

All in all, I want to say that I love my palm trees and this is a great informative site.

Thanks and best to all.

Property at the time of sale

Property one year later

P. Sylversris

Neighbors Phoenix ??

[Ken Johnson]

I would not trimm anything yet. They look great!

[Kumar]

Hello Brian - your neighbour's phoenix has been trimmed in a manner that is unnatural, excessive and perhaps stressful to the plant. Why not allow the crown to develop naturally and enjoy a full head of fronds.

Like this -

[PalmatierMeg]

I agree with Kumar. Your neighbor's Phoenix is way overtrimmed to the point unnaturalness - poor thing. Your Phoenix s., on the other hand, looks loveley. Leave your palms be until warmer weather. And welcome to PalmTalk.

[Walter John]

Agree with the rest, don't trim, the palm will be healthier as it grows and sustains itself. No need to fertilise those palms of yours either, just lay piles of mulch around them, maybe add some manures once a year and of course water, that's what I'd do.

One more thing, it's not palm trunk trimming, it's palm crown trimming, as in "crown of leaves".

Good looking palms by the way, thanks for coming on board..

[pindo]

Hi Brian

First, excuse my bad English

Remember that your palm is P sylvestris and your neighbor's palm is P canariensis. Although they are similar, are distinct species.

The P canariensis have European-style pruning. In my opinion, not good, not bad, just a matter of taste and style.

Pruning is done by removing the remains of old leaves with a manual cutter and shaping round the top, in Spain called "balona" (balloon)

This work of pruning can be done only when the palm has a trunk developed

Here I show you some pictures of the web

Friendly

Jose

Edited January 9, 2011 by pindo

[mjff]

Pindo beat me to it, but it does appear that your neighbor's Phoenix is a Canary Island Date Palm which is related but different from yours. I'm not even sure it is possible to trim a P. sylvestris to look like a CIDP. Your place looks great and welcome to the board. Watch out for the virus or other infectious agent that you can pick up on this board, though. You'll know you have it when you start posting photos of your yard, and it is impossible to see the house in them because the palm trees are so dense.

[Brian K]

Thank you all for the replies. I'm convinced, I will refrain from "trimming

the crown" (my new phrase for the day).

I didn't think my neighbor's palm was Sylvestris, but wasn't sure. My ignorance

thought the trimming looked great, but I did not take into account possible

damage to the palm. Pindo's photos is what I was talking about.

I am going to focus on maintaining healthy palms, not necessary how they look.

I hope to eventually switch to a more organic type of fertilizer as suggested. I

can't at this time due to my inability to monitor the palms and have to rely on a

service to feed them.

When we first visited the area we could not believe the lack of trees and vegetation.

We vowed that one of the first things we would do was plant some trees. After we did

we noticed (after returning months later) a couple of neighbors planted some too.

Mjff, too late we have the virus already. There's a couple of palms and dozen fruit

trees we planted out back

[mjff]

Thank you all for the replies. I'm convinced, I will refrain from "trimming

the crown" (my new phrase for the day).

I didn't think my neighbor's palm was Sylvestris, but wasn't sure. My ignorance

thought the trimming looked great, but I did not take into account possible

damage to the palm. Pindo's photos is what I was talking about.

I am going to focus on maintaining healthy palms, not necessary how they look.

I hope to eventually switch to a more organic type of fertilizer as suggested. I

can't at this time due to my inability to monitor the palms and have to rely on a

service to feed them.

When we first visited the area we could not believe the lack of trees and vegetation.

We vowed that one of the first things we would do was plant some trees. After we did

we noticed (after returning months later) a couple of neighbors planted some too.

Mjff, too late we have the virus already. There's a couple of palms and dozen fruit

trees we planted out back

It may not be too late for you. I can still see most of the house, and there is not the slightest hint of a "container ranch" yet. Run Brian, run while you can still get up your driveway without dodging palms in 1 gallon containers.

[Brian K]

Mjff,

Thank you for your concern, I have an appointment with a therapist this week.

My better half would like me to spend some money on furniture instead of trees. She's tired of

sleeping on the floor.

[buccaneers37]

Brian,

Welcome to the Forum. I think you have done a great job on your yard already. I think palms, for the most part, look best untrimmed (except fo the dead stuff). Keep up the good work.

Wayne

[mjff]

Mjff,

Thank you for your concern, I have an appointment with a therapist this week.

My better half would like me to spend some money on furniture instead of trees. She's tired of

sleeping on the floor.

Furniture instead of trees??? This will never do. I suggest getting rid of the wife. Will also free up more money for palm trees, unless of course she has a good job. In that case you may have to toss her a new sofa every once in a while.

[war_eagle]

I do believe stringing a hammock between two palm trees counts as furniture and a place to sleep. Problem solved.

Your yard looks great so far and will continue to reward (as well as feed) you for many years to come.

[mjff]

I do believe stringing a hammock between two palm trees counts as furniture and a place to sleep. Problem solved.

Your yard looks great so far and will continue to reward (as well as feed) you for many years to come.

Great solution! And you can buy two more palm trees to string it between! She'd have to go for that.