Trimming palm fronds - what do you use?

[annsplants]

I have 4 princess palms and 30 date palms I trim about every 6 months.

I have always used lopers and a ladder.

Was looking at all the 4-6 inch hand held cordless chainsaws on amazon and home depot and thinking I might like to get one.

Does anyone out there use one for trimming palm fronds and if so what kind?.

Thanks, Ann

Here I am trimming my tallest date palm a few days ago-used loppers. Builds muscle but...

[AZ_Palm_Guy]

@annsplants I use loppers as well and a corded Sawzall. I haven't used a cordless chainsaw, but my Sawzall makes quick work of cutting off old fronds.

[LoamWolf]

Silky pole saw is the best IMO. The Makita top-handle battery chainsaw is good too, but works best if you convert the chain to 1/4 pitch. 

[Keys6505]

I use loppers or a sawzall, really anything that I can sterilize between trees to avoid spreading anything unwanted.  But I may be being overly cautious.

[miamicuse]

I use a one handed cordless sawzall.  Sometimes the loppers are too small for a wide based frond.

[aztropic]

I use a sawzall and ladder until I can't reach the fronds anymore. Then it's on to the pole chainsaw and ladder. Both tools work well for the task at hand.Probably going to finally have to hire a bucket truck in another year or two though, for my biggest bismarckia.

 

aztropic 

Mesa,Arizona

 

[kinzyjr]

I usually use pruning shears or loppers, but when that isn't enough:

[KDubU]

I use a Jameson pole saw that is up to 18’ long. It has three sections and a great blade that cuts through palm fronds with ease and I also use it to trim other trees like oak. It’s a bit unwieldy at full length, holding it up and try to cut and avoid falling debris. The one and two section lengths is best and easy to handle. I went with a manual as I had thoughts of electric or gas models but they are heavy if you have a lot of trimming to do.

[Jimhardy]

18 hours ago, kinzyjr said:

I usually use pruning shears or loppers, but when that isn't enough:

May the forest be with you

[miamicuse]

I also wonder about leaning an extension ladder like your on the palm to make cuts.  On my fan palms the ladder wobbles as I shift weight while on the ladder.  It's hard to stabilize a ladder on a palm.  If the previously cut base stumps are about ready to come off and the ladder is sitting on them that can be trouble.  Sometimes I take a bungie cord to wrap around the trunk and the ladder.

[WaianaeCrider]

If I can reach from the ground it's either my 31" lopper or a hand saw.  If I can't reach I wait on nature to drop them.