Q. I am chairman of building
and grounds at a church where we have palm trees which are about 40 feet tall.
These trees have skirts of dead fronds below the green tops. Somebody told me
if we wait long enough these dead fronds will simply fall off and we won’t have
to trim them. Is this true?
and grounds at a church where we have palm trees which are about 40 feet tall.
These trees have skirts of dead fronds below the green tops. Somebody told me
if we wait long enough these dead fronds will simply fall off and we won’t have
to trim them. Is this true?
A. No, it is not true
unless a very strong wind blows them off and you are prepared to have them look
“ratty” until the rest of them blow off. Normally they hang from the palm trees
in a “skirt” that can be very attractive if left fully intact but can harbor
birds and rodents. It can also be a fire hazard.
unless a very strong wind blows them off and you are prepared to have them look
“ratty” until the rest of them blow off. Normally they hang from the palm trees
in a “skirt” that can be very attractive if left fully intact but can harbor
birds and rodents. It can also be a fire hazard.
 |
| Most palms hold on to their fronds unless they are physically removed, strong winds blow them off or they burn. When they remain, these dead fronds are called a “skirt”. |
At the best, your church has the expense of removing dead
and dying fronds every couple of years if they can tolerate some dead fronds in
the canopy. Otherwise, pruning must be done annually if they are to look their
best.
and dying fronds every couple of years if they can tolerate some dead fronds in
the canopy. Otherwise, pruning must be done annually if they are to look their
best.
 |
| The base of the palm frond remains attached to the palm tree trunk unless removed by pruning, strong winds or rotting. |
Another problem of many palms are the seeds they throw
everywhere each year. Have palms pruned the same time they flower and the
flowering spikes that produce seed can be removed at the same time. This
eliminates the problem of palm seedlings growing everywhere.
everywhere each year. Have palms pruned the same time they flower and the
flowering spikes that produce seed can be removed at the same time. This
eliminates the problem of palm seedlings growing everywhere.