Carefully prune palms - proper palm pruning is worth the effort!

A healthy, properly pruned palm is a joy to behold!   Healthy palms should have a full rounded canopy and not look like a feather duster!  Excessive pruning of palms is a practice that leads to reduced photosynthesis, nutrient deficiencies and a bad appearance – this happens way too often!  In fact, not all palms need to be pruned.  Let’s take a look at this important task and how it can be performed properly.

As mentioned, not all palms need to be pruned in the first place.  Palms that have what is called a crownshaft never really need to be pruned.  The crownshaft is a green smooth area located just above the gray portion of the trunk of palms such as bottle, royal and foxtail palms.  Normally, old fronds on these go from green to orange-brown to brown over a three-day period and then self-shed – look out below!   Old palm fronds that do not shed normally may be potassium deficient and stay in place for months.  Old fronds on palms that do not have crownshafts (Queen palms as an example) normally hang down against the trunk when dead and then can be pruned off. 

Excessive pruning really puts a monkey wrench into the photosynthetic and nutrient storage process.  While it is noted initially that over-pruned palms produce more fronds, these fronds are smaller and have less capacity to photosynthesize. Hand-in-hand with this issue, the trunk diameter begins to narrow as well.   Removing older fronds too soon can also deplete the palm’s reserve of nutrients such as potassium.  Older fronds translocate potassium to newer leaves to sustain them.  If an older frond that is a bit yellow or frizzled looking is removed too soon, potassium will be obtained from the next set of fronds within the canopy and these fronds will then begin to show nutrient deficiencies. 

Always clean tools between cuts with a disinfectant for five minutes so that you do not spread certain diseases such as Fusarium wilt from palm to palm.  Over-pruning can also attract insect pests such as palmetto weevils which may be lured in by the chemical scents of wounded palms.  

Prune palms at any time of year on an as-needed basis.  The best practices for properly pruning palms include the removal of dead fronds, and dead or living flower and fruit stalks.  If at all possible, leave discolored older fronds intact until they are fully dead and brown for the sake of the nutrients present.  As a reminder, the very best palm fertilizer analysis is 8-2-12-4 (which includes micronutrients) applied in November, February and May as per label directions, with an additional feeding of 0-0-16-6 in August.  Using the proper fertilizer is the best practice overall to prevent nutrient deficiency in the first place.  Keep in mind that a properly fertilized palm will retain more fronds in top condition for a longer period of time thus delaying the need for pruning.  If live green fronds must be pruned off, do not remove any leaves above the horizon line or, if you will, at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock position.  Cut fronds close to the trunk, but do not nick the trunk as this could become an entry wound for disease.  Also, do not use climbing spikes to get up into the canopy.  Trunk wounds will never seal up and again allow diseases to enter. 

Beware the ‘hurricane-cut”!  The “hurricane-cut” leaves only a few of the youngest fronds intact and does not protect the palm from severe wind.  In fact, observations suggest that “hurricane-cut” palms did worse in hurricane conditions than those properly pruned. 

Make proper palm pruning a standard practice in your landscape!  For more information on all types of palm subjects, please call our Master Gardener volunteers on the Plant Lifeline on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer.  Don't forget to visit our other County Plant Clinics in the area.  Please check this link for a complete list of site locations, dates and times - http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/Plant%20Clinics%20Schedule.pdf.

Resource:

Broschat, T. K. (2014) Pruning Palms.  The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.