Pruning a Doum Palm

[Blanche]

We have moved into a house with a beautiful palm in the front garden. I think it's a Doum or Gingerbread Palm, about 30 years old. 

It's flourishing, but there are cracks all up the front of the house (it grows very close).  

So I've got to cut it back but I don't want to hurt it. I read that you can damage a palm badly by cutting back too savagely. Can anyone advise me? 

I've put a picture of it here. 

 

 

Edited April 21, 2020 by Blanche
Shortening post!

[Stevetoad]

Sorry to say that this is not a doum palm or a palm tree of any kind. Looks like cordyline australis. 

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, Blanche said:

It's flourishing, but there are cracks all up the front of the house (it grows very close).  

So I've got to cut it back but I don't want to hurt it. 

 

55 minutes ago, Stevetoad said:

Looks like cordyline australis. 

Steve is correct that it is not a palm and likely Cordyline australis.  Getting to your desire to trim it back from the house, it will be fine to trim off any heads that are growing in places you don't want them.  It won't hurt it like cutting the growth point of a palm. 

[Blanche]

Steve and Tracy, this is really kind of you. Thank you!

I'm very sad that it's not a palm... but what a relief that I won't kill it by trimming it. 

[Darold Petty]

Welcome to Palmtalk !  

[Hillizard]

This RHS information may be a good starting point re. pruning and general care: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/cordyline/growing-guide