Varnish on a palm?

[miamicuse]

I didn't know this is a thing, until I ran into this Craigslist ad.

sylvester palm trees

The ad says "diamond cut & varnish call for pricing today".  I can imagine what the diamond cut is, but don't understand the "varnish" part...but the picture does show the palm with some sort of shiny coating on it.

So I googled it and it appears this is a service that's offered in South Florida, they come and do the diamond cutting, and then they put a coat of something on it.  Some said it's shellac some said polyurethane, not sure but it gives it a "pineapple" look.

Here is a link to a Facebook video made by someone advertising it.  Apparent;y it needs to be done every 5-6 months.  Not my thing but does this harm the palms?

[Merlyn]

You are probably right, they cut it and then immediately spray it with furniture topcoat - either polyurethane or something like spar varnish.  Shellac hasn't been used since the 1950s, so whoever said that is probably wrong.    But that's just semantics, like saying "Kleenex" vs "facial tissue."  Most people use a variety of urethane these days.  Based on the color I don't think they are staining it, but I guess you could use one of the "polyshades" if you really wanted to.  Theoretically it just seals out the air to prevent the normal oxidation of dead tissue, but I'd imagine that it doesn't work 100%.  It might promote rot if water is trapped in there.  But it's probably not a good enough seal to really trap moisture.  So who knows...

[Billeb]

6 hours ago, miamicuse said:

 

 

It sure looks cool. Is it healthy/ok for the tree??!?….no clue. 
 

-dale

[rprimbs]

Is the varnish to 'seal' the cut ends like you do on a tree when you paint the cut surfaces with latex and water?

[miamicuse]

13 hours ago, rprimbs said:

Is the varnish to 'seal' the cut ends like you do on a tree when you paint the cut surfaces with latex and water?

The ends are cut very close to an inverted triangle, and whatever varnish they use is applied over the trunk...I don't know if they brush or spray.  But the cut ends being freshly cut will not stain much.  It can't be too healthy for the plant if this is done over and over again as it fades and these services will offer a maintenance schedule to come do it like twice a year.

Edited September 15, 2022 by miamicuse

[PalmatierMeg]

Someone values appearance and decorative “wow” factors over substance & living things.