Would my Phoenix palm hate me?

[NickJames]

Some of you who follow me know I have a P. Sylvestris (that’s what it was tagged as, though I know some on here stated it is a hybrid Phoenix) that was installed by my builder. It is the only palm my builder installed, and the only piece of their landscaping package that I kept! 

It has grown very rapidly compared to other Phoenix species I’ve owned in the past. 

I never would have planted it here but it was simply too large to move and I’m too prideful to let someone else do it.

It is at a point now where it is rubbing against the house quite a lot, obstructing a window, etc. 

I NEVER cut living tissue but in this case I’m 20% considering it. How much would it hate me if I trimmed the circled area with sterile instruments? I probably wouldn’t do until spring if I decide to do it. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Since Phoenix palms hold so many fronds, removing some living ones is rarely a setback unless you go much above the 9 o’clock/3 o’clock position. I think you’ll be okay removing the fronds in the blue circle area. I might not say that about most other genus though. 

[Ben in Norcal]

Agree with Jim...it'll be fine.  I've occasionally been brutal on my Canary while waiting for it to get overhead.  I have kids that I don't need impaling themselves!

[NickJames]

15 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Since Phoenix palms hold so many fronds, removing some living ones is rarely a setback unless you go much above the 9 o’clock/3 o’clock position. I think you’ll be okay removing the fronds in the blue circle area. I might not say that about most other genus though. 

Thanks! It’s been in the ground here since June 2019 and hasn’t lost any fronds. 
 

This is a photo from the day they planted it. A storm came through and knocked over the stupid live oak. The Phoenix palm didn’t miss a beat!

[NickJames]

1 minute ago, Ben in Norcal said:

Agree with Jim...it'll be fine.  I've occasionally been brutal on my Canary while waiting for it to get overhead.  I have kids that I don't need impaling themselves!

At my last home, I had a very tall one that needed a ladder and pole saw to trim. It basically never grew (I think it had an issue but then I moved...). I had a brown frond I cut fall and puncture me in two places. Not fun!

[DoomsDave]

@NickJames Phoenix are tougher than, multiple similes and metaphors.

If all you want to do it remove the lowest rank or ranks of leaves, do it.

It is a bit close to the house, but, well, forgive me, for I have sinned and sinned and sinned etc.

[Bazza]

Nick - like most Phoenix palms, their trunks are so beautiful, the more you keep them tightened up, the prettier your palm will look. So please do get those lower fronds trimmed off and if possible post an "after" pic so we can all admire the work you did!

BTW....spacing of plant material has always been a pet peeve of mine. It's like people don't realize that these things actually grow and get bigger!

A sawzall is the chosen tool. I like the M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion HACKZALL Cordless Reciprocating Saw Kit with (1) 1.5Ah Batteries, Charger & Tool Bag myself....get some 12" pruning blades for your Cabbage Palms,etc.  and some 12" wood cutting (finer tooth) blades for that palm.

And wear your PPG!

 

[sonoranfans]

Looks like it has CIDP blood more than sylvestris in the leaflets, definitely not a sylvestris.  Trunk isnt thick like a CIDP but then again it may have been in a container which will cause a thinner trunk.  One day it will be someone elses trimming problem, OUCH!  Trim away!

[sonoranfans]

12 hours ago, NickJames said:

At my last home, I had a very tall one that needed a ladder and pole saw to trim. It basically never grew (I think it had an issue but then I moved...). I had a brown frond I cut fall and puncture me in two places. Not fun!

I edited my sylvestris hybrid when after many injuries trimming a palm with a hundred(!) leaves it started to occur to me that I would be UNDER it and the leaves might fall on me!  I like the look of a silver green sylvestris, but not on my property.  My only phoeix sp. is now a rupicola triple.  bendy thorns and 2' trunk in 10 years.

[Merlyn]

I try not to cut living tissue too, but in some cases it is pretty much unavoidable.  I have three Sylvesters with about 1 foot less trunk than yours, i.e. mine are not quite really "trunking" yet.  I cut off the older fronds when they start drooping and getting dead leaflets, and I fertilize a bit extra to compensate for removing the nutrients.  In my case it's mostly so I can get to the weeds underneath without getting impaled.  You could also cut off the ends of fronds that are scraping up the house, if you wanted to keep more of the canopy.  It might look weird, it might not...    Personally I'd cut off the ones with a lot of dying leaflets anyway, just for cosmetic reasons.

[NickJames]

Decided to cut the fronds today. 

Still need the sawzall to diamond cut the bases..

How does it look?

[aztropic]

Picture perfect! 

 

aztropic 

Mesa,Arizona