When to cut palm fronds

[Foreverwood]

I've always read to cut a palm frond only when it is completely dead,  but also to make sure to cut off dead fronds. My question is other than for aesthetics, what happens if a dead frond is not removed? And when does water cease to travel through a frond? Thanks

[Merlyn]

I generally leave fronds on until they are brown and dried out.  The palm will "eat" the oldest fronds for nutrients to power new growth, so by cutting them off early you are depriving the palm of nutrients.  Cutting off a live frond is also a risk for fungal or bacterial infections, since it leaves and open wound.  Completely dead fronds are also easier to deal with because they are dessicated and don't weigh very much.  That's general "best practice" for pruning fronds.  I make exceptions for cosmetic or clearance reasons.  For example, I have a Butia (Pindo) that is about 6' from the side of a pathway.  When it was younger I routinely cut off fronds that are blocking the path.  Now that it's taller I just have to cut them off when they start drooping into the head-bonking height.  I also cut off fronds from my Livistona and Bismarckia when they start bending down and trying to crush nearby plants.

As far as leaving dead fronds on there, it depends on where you live and the type of palm.  Here in the swamp of Florida I try to remove them reasonably soon after they die.  That's mostly for fungal reasons.  Hanging fronds trap moisture and fungus near the trunk, which *might* increase the risk of fungal infections.  Bugs also like to nest in dead fronds, anything from roaches to carpenter ants to earwigs and other stuff.  Carpenter ants really like living in the boots on my Livistona, for some odd reason.

[ZPalms]

I leave fronds until they are completely done, depending on the palm and where it is, I don't have any tall ones yet, but I like a skirt small skirts to form depending on the tree but bugs and stuff are gross so I don't let it get dense.

[D Palm]

The are 3 main options:

1. Minimal pruning - only pruning totally brown fronds. (What I do mostly). 

2. Average - 3 & 9 o’clock pruning. Where you prune up until the above position. (I do this during Jan-Feb occasionally).

3. Max pruning - hurricane cut. Doesn’t really help with hurricanes. Helps with newly transplanted sabals. (I only do this to my Bizzy’s if they are damaged hard after winter…shouldn’t be an issue in your area.)