'Pencil top' palm at Dover CV, see waistline on trunk, caused by previous excessive trimming. Now that is a dangerous palm in a hurricane, the whole head of the palm may snap off and become airborne.
The first major rule to pruning palms is to avoid pruning them at all. Palms are designed to shed their fronds on their own. Just because a palm frond is turning colors or maybe even browning does not mean that it is done contributing to the tree. The browning of fronds is a process called Trans location of Nutrients meaning that the palm is recycling the nutrients of the frond back into the heart of the palm itself. If you remove the fronds during this process then you weaken the palms defenses against molds and fungi.
If it is necessary to prune the Palm then a general rule is applied to palms that you should not cut fronds above a parallel line to the ground or the 9:00 to 3:00 o'clock rule. Cutting more than that is called a Hurricane Cut or a Candle Cut and is very damaging to the tree. If a hurricane cut is repeated over and over it will create a condition know as a "pencil top" which is the narrowing of the trunk just below the fronds. The name hurricane cut comes from the fact that during hurricane winds, the head of the palm may snap off where the thinning occurred and become airborne.
So there you have it plain and simple, keep the tropical look, just don't prune your Palms and they will be happy and healthy, and you will save money.
Thx to A Garden in Fort Pierce Blog
3 comments:
Elaine have you taken any of this information to Pat Blunk at UCO? It is all very good to write on this blog about the trees but does Pat read the Blog, probably not. I would be willing to go with you if you want to take it to him.
Thx Grace
Except it is the CAM’s job to know the ULDC, and PBC PZ&B codes.
Except that I went into UCO to talk to Pat at the previous cutting end of Jan ’08. I was told WE HAVE TO DO IT OUR WAY, etc. IF YOU WANT COCONUTS GO PLANT YOUR OWN (see blog archives).
Except that we have master gardener on our Beautification Cmte.
Except that UCO and presidents who were around in 2000 should remember the fury of P&Z Landscaping when they found hatracking cutting etc. in CV.
Except that UCO prez Walsh ignored my 3 letters and educational info at that time.
That post was more general info, when I get to it I will do a post on specific violations.
I am sorry to hear you have also been given the "we know it all and you know nothing" UCO treatment. They can be very bullying and nasty to we ‘annoying old’ folks. Beware if you push they will spead lies about you and stick your maintenance co on you to harass your building.
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