[Tia Maria]

A question for all you gardeners out there, how do you 'prune' a Palm?

We have a couple of tall ones and a couple of short dumpy ones (yes I believe they are the technical terms!).

Anyway they have gone mad and could do with some of the leaves taking off. Can we just chop them off? Or is there a particular method, or a good time of year to do this? Can we harm them, or does pruning actually help with upward growth?

Cheers

Tia

[willsken]

I have no idea but it made me chuckle remembering OH's attempts at pruning my garden. I got home from work and I thought a butcher had been at work. Beautiful bushes turned into a scene of horror! :( :laugh

[Caroline and Dave]

Hi Tia,
Had a search for you and this might help you.http://coop.co.pinellas.fl.us/PDF/Pruning-Palms.pdf

I know its from Florida but the same principles apply. Alternatively try this www.horticulture.co.nz

Hope this helps

Kindest regards

Dave and Caroline

[Ana&Steve]

Hey Tia, I don't know if this is a prob in NZ, but in CA rats like to live in the dead turned down bits of the palm, another good reason to prune 'em! :uhoh When we pruned we just used a little pruning saw to take all non-green fronds off as close to the trunk as we could get. (Have long since chopped them down, rats were using them to get to the roof!) Also, some types of fronds are sharp and really hurt when you get poked, (don't know if NZ has those) but a topical drawing solution helps the pain. Have fun pruning, hope it's a breeze!
Ana

[Tia Maria]

Willsken wrote:

Beautiful bushes turned into a scene of horror!

I'm looking at some pretty sorry specimens myself, that the OH had 'pruned', hence the question!

Thanks for the link Caroline & Dave, interesting to read that people have been seriously injured by falling fronds! And it seems to offer a good guide to pruning.

Ana & Steve wrote:

I don't know if this is a prob in NZ, but in CA rats like to live in the dead turned down bits of the palm, another good reason to prune 'em!

We do have rats here, lots apparently! Those Palms are going to get a severe haircut.

Cheers

Tia