Advise on leaning fronds on a palm

BigGirlsBlouse · 7th February 2009, 11:48 AM

Greetings all...
Have a palm tree (sorry, don't know exactly what type) that has taken to growing fronds on one side only (see attached photo). Has a terrific lean to it. Tree is app 6M high and is otherwise healthy. Not aware of any recent damage to the tree. Any suggestions on what's causing this? Possible solutions (would prefer not to have to cut it down)? We have a number of other palms that are all growing just fine. We're located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

...cheers!
Geoff

Jeff Darby · 7th February 2009, 12:32 PM

Hi BGB,
Welcome to Treeworld,IMO you palm is not going to recover from this injury from high winds I would say at a guess.
Also I would have it cut down and removed asap.
Eric, from Brisbane Palm Tree Services should be able to help in dicussing your corse of action.Palm and Tree Removal Brisbane Hope this helps.

Eric Frei · 7th February 2009, 02:46 PM

Dont be surprised to find the whole head on the ground one day.

There's a palm like that in Paddington. I have been driving past it for around 4 years now and it's still the same.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34+latrobe+tce+paddington&sll=-27.459539,153.001571&sspn=0.008511,0.018089&g=34+latrobe+tce+paddington&ie=UTF8&ll=-27.45813,153.001356&spn=0.008511,0.018089&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=-27.459391,153.001416&panoid=2COusRSTTg-lYZgWNUnjVA&cbp=12,23.55892413159785,,0,-11.623352519476121

But in saying that this one here was like that for some 2 years maybe, have a look, the guy even parked under it. However Google street view pictures are a little old and this one the whole head fell off perhaps 9months ago!

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2169+wynnum+road+manly&sll=-27.448286,153.157804&sspn=0.008512,0.018089&g=wynnum+road+manly&ie=UTF8&ll=-27.44722,153.157761&spn=0.008512,0.018089&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=-27.44819,153.157777&panoid=_XNeN0XYCXZfc6F3s11T3w&cbp=12,241.78226065518265,,0,5

So the choice is yours, and make the decision according to damage value.

PS: Dont you just love technology, I love it how I know where these places are and can look them up knowing Google runs around 12months to 2years behind real time with pictures.

sherwood · 8th February 2009, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigGirlsBlouse

Greetings all...
Have a palm tree (sorry, don't know exactly what type) that has taken to growing fronds on one side only (see attached photo). Has a terrific lean to it. Tree is app 6M high and is otherwise healthy. Not aware of any recent damage to the tree. Any suggestions on what's causing this? Possible solutions (would prefer not to have to cut it down)? We have a number of other palms that are all growing just fine. We're located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

...cheers!
Geoff

Not sure what is causing it. Could possibly be an old wound on top of tree. It would probably be alright to just take some of the weight off the one heavy side from time to time.

Jeff Darby · 8th February 2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherwood

Not sure what is causing it. Could possibly be an old wound on top of tree. It would probably be alright to just take some of the weight off the one heavy side from time to time.

Are you telling him what he wants to hear ? Because its not what he needs to hear...This palm will not recover, It's like balancing a boulder on a leaning ledge..sooner or later it's going to fall, lets hope one of his loved ones are not under it when it happens!! This palm is hazardous.

sherwood · 8th February 2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

Are you telling him what he wants to hear ? Because its not what he needs to hear...This palm will not recover, It's like balancing a boulder on a leaning ledge..sooner or later it's going to fall, lets hope one of his loved ones are not under it when it happens!! This palm is hazardous.

He should have a certified arborist come and check it out. Hard to tell if the tree needs to come out from seeing just one picture. If everthing else is solid it would probably be ok to take some weight off the top and leave it. I am saying that because he said he wanted to try and save it.

Eric Frei · 8th February 2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherwood

If everthing else is solid it would probably be ok to take some weight off the top and leave it.

Hi,

And thanks for posting and joining in.

Palms are totally different to trees, how do you take weight off the top?

You cannot cut the top off it will die.

You cut leaves (fronds) off and they grow back.

There's no real pruning way of fixing this.

In my experience it could stay like that for years or the whole head falls off, hard to say which of the two happens and the above pictures show how some over many years of my observations have faired.

Palms are very similar, a pole with cabbage on top, simple. Unlike trees they dont have heartwood, cambium etc ... lot less options to work with.

Jeff Darby · 8th February 2009, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherwood

He should have a certified arborist come and check it out. Hard to tell if the tree needs to come out from seeing just one picture. If everthing else is solid it would probably be ok to take some weight off the top and leave it. I am saying that because he said he wanted to try and save it.

Your input has been taken onboard, thankyou, However in my first responce that was what I suggested he do. Also I just noticed what seems to be an eve of the house in the direction of the lean? target No1 the house, close to the house more than likely pedestrian traffic , two reasons to action this sooner rarther than later.

BigGirlsBlouse · 8th February 2009, 05:02 PM

First up, a big thanks to you all for your quick responses.

Some of those pics of other drooping palms make mine look as if it's taking Vegetable Viagra

It seems the safest course of action is to have the palm removed

.

You're right JayD, that's the house about 2M to the left of the tree. If the entire head comes tumbling down one day and damages the house it could lead to interesting dialog w/ my insurance company (I'm thinking, "it's your tree and your responsibility to trim/remove as needed, now bugger off").

Oh well, it's a call to the tree lopper that removed all those horrid Cocos palms (and the very nice Chinese Fan palm that the previous owner placed in the totally wrong spot). Sigh.

Thinking of replacing it with a Foxtail palm. Planted a couple elsewhere in the garden - and doing really well. Any other suggestions for garden-friendly palms?

...cheers!

Jeff Darby · 8th February 2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigGirlsBlouse

First up, a big thanks to you all for your quick responses.

Some of those pics of other drooping palms make mine look as if it's taking Vegetable Viagra

It seems the safest course of action is to have the palm removed

.

You're right JayD, that's the house about 2M to the left of the tree. If the entire head comes tumbling down one day and damages the house it could lead to interesting dialog w/ my insurance company (I'm thinking, "it's your tree and your responsibility to trim/remove as needed, now bugger off").

Oh well, it's a call to the tree lopper that removed all those horrid Cocos palms (and the very nice Chinese Fan palm that the previous owner placed in the totally wrong spot). Sigh.

Thinking of replacing it with a Foxtail palm. Planted a couple elsewhere in the garden - and doing really well. Any other suggestions for garden-friendly palms?

...cheers!

Your Welcome, Sometimes the reality of the matter outweighs the wants, I feel in this scenario you have made the right decision.

If I may one more time I would like to put forward Eric, of Palm and Tree Removal Brisbane I have worked with this man and he is indeed one very capable Arborist as seen in our video section working on many palms and trees in difficult and confined space removal I honestly do not think you can go wrong with this mans profesional services.
All The Best
JayD

7th February 2009, 11:48 AM	#1
BigGirlsBlouse I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 2	Advise on leaning fronds on a palm Greetings all... Have a palm tree (sorry, don't know exactly what type) that has taken to growing fronds on one side only (see attached photo). Has a terrific lean to it. Tree is app 6M high and is otherwise healthy. Not aware of any recent damage to the tree. Any suggestions on what's causing this? Possible solutions (would prefer not to have to cut it down)? We have a number of other palms that are all growing just fine. We're located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. ...cheers! Geoff Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Eric Frei; 8th February 2009 at 11:03 AM. Reason: embedded picture

7th February 2009, 12:32 PM	#2
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,057	Re: Advise on leaning fronds on a palm Hi BGB, Welcome to Treeworld,IMO you palm is not going to recover from this injury from high winds I would say at a guess. Also I would have it cut down and removed asap. Eric, from Brisbane Palm Tree Services should be able to help in dicussing your corse of action.Palm and Tree Removal Brisbane Hope this helps. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

7th February 2009, 02:46 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,990	Re: Advise on leaning fronds on a palm Dont be surprised to find the whole head on the ground one day. There's a palm like that in Paddington. I have been driving past it for around 4 years now and it's still the same. http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34+latrobe+tce+paddington&sll=-27.459539,153.001571&sspn=0.008511,0.018089&g=34+latrobe+tce+paddington&ie=UTF8&ll=-27.45813,153.001356&spn=0.008511,0.018089&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=-27.459391,153.001416&panoid=2COusRSTTg-lYZgWNUnjVA&cbp=12,23.55892413159785,,0,-11.623352519476121 But in saying that this one here was like that for some 2 years maybe, have a look, the guy even parked under it. However Google street view pictures are a little old and this one the whole head fell off perhaps 9months ago! http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2169+wynnum+road+manly&sll=-27.448286,153.157804&sspn=0.008512,0.018089&g=wynnum+road+manly&ie=UTF8&ll=-27.44722,153.157761&spn=0.008512,0.018089&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=-27.44819,153.157777&panoid=_XNeN0XYCXZfc6F3s11T3w&cbp=12,241.78226065518265,,0,5 So the choice is yours, and make the decision according to damage value. PS: Dont you just love technology, I love it how I know where these places are and can look them up knowing Google runs around 12months to 2years behind real time with pictures. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

8th February 2009, 05:02 PM	#9
BigGirlsBlouse I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 2	Re: Advise on leaning fronds on a palm First up, a big thanks to you all for your quick responses. Some of those pics of other drooping palms make mine look as if it's taking Vegetable Viagra It seems the safest course of action is to have the palm removed . You're right JayD, that's the house about 2M to the left of the tree. If the entire head comes tumbling down one day and damages the house it could lead to interesting dialog w/ my insurance company (I'm thinking, "it's your tree and your responsibility to trim/remove as needed, now bugger off"). Oh well, it's a call to the tree lopper that removed all those horrid Cocos palms (and the very nice Chinese Fan palm that the previous owner placed in the totally wrong spot). Sigh. Thinking of replacing it with a Foxtail palm. Planted a couple elsewhere in the garden - and doing really well. Any other suggestions for garden-friendly palms? ...cheers!

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