Help with, Phoenix palm pruning.

kiwi_tree_steve

Hey guys,

ive been asked to prune, and tidy up the trunk of this palm, basically remove all dead fronds, and raise the canopy above the roof, im confidant that i can do the job, but my experience pruning palms a low, any advice on a plann of attack, and how long it should take to do would be great!



steve

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Eric Frei

Pruning - Landscape plants - Edward F. Gilman - UF/IFAS

Palms - Pruning - Landscape plants - Edward F. Gilman - UF/IFAS

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kiwi_tree_steve

thanks Ekka, i have a question, regarding "cleaning" up the "trunk", as you can see in the pics, there is a lot of dead bases of frond's they are rotting and falling off, the client has asked if i can cut them off , to stop them falling, is this a good idea?

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Eric Frei

Yes, but leave them protruding as much as possible or you'll regret it! Pick the shortest one and work the rest to that length, dont try to shave the whole trunk, and like many pics you can leave the head ones a little longer.

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OutofMytree

I love to hate Canary Island Date Palms.

I seem to be the only business in my area that will prune or remove them. Its nasty work but you can charge for the pain!

I only use my Sthil polesaw for jobs the size of yours. I use ironclad gel palm gloves to absorb some of the vibration. I plan on trying out the sling that I got with the saw 2 years ago. Eventually........

If I have a large drop zone I cut off the entire frond. If its a smaller drop zone I cut the frond where the "spikes" start, then make a second cut to remove the stub. If you take whole fronds in a samll area they can run down the polesaw and bite you!

As to the finish. I find most of my clients like the same finish as some of the local Dates planted in traffic roundabouts. Cut close enough to the trunk that you leave a diamond pattern. It is quite attractive. For a palm that is.

I have a few photo's to post but I'm too tired. 12 palms removed and 4 cleaned. Oh and a Tipuana for good measure. And 2 quotes. And 7 stumps. Phew!

treekiwi

Hey Steve,
The best way to do them is with spikes or a pole saw or a extention ladder. best idea would to use a pole saw to clean out the major fronds and then cut them close with a chainsaw so its close to trunk as possible. Also remember to cut out the ones that a dying back with yellowing or dead tips as these will be the next to go. Otherwise you'll be back in 3 or 4 months. Try to keep the whorls even

kiwi_tree_steve

so how long do you think it will take to prune?

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"You have to feel and touch a tree" Shigo

treekiwi

Do you have to dispose of the fronds? Id say about 3 hours by the time you kick all the dead stuff off and clean up the mess.

kiwi_tree_steve

Yeah, got to clean up, all mess.
also got a Cabbage tree to remove and some ferns to clean up. i was thinking 5 hours or so all up including removal of fronds and dumping fees.

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"You have to feel and touch a tree" Shigo

newguy18

1 cut,about 3/4" off the ground will do.

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kieren

you poor bastard I normally get my throw ball over the top of the centre pull my rope throgh and attach a pully and my climbing system then tie it to the trunk prusick up with my spikes on and use my flip line atached to the fond base and pull myself around to the fonds i shave the trunk on the way up

Bob Brennan

Be careful, go slow, Use an extension ladder with a rope on the top that will go all the way around the tree, boline on one side and a clove hitch on the other. That makes the ladder stable on the tree.

Clean up as you go these babies will go all the way to the bone! The second surgery starts to work on the proffits of the job. ha ha ah~!

Good gloves and a face shield,and glasses, Helmet and ear muffs work the best. Belt with a long positioning lanyard.

that is about all I can add Except we call the rope on the top of the ladder the surfer line. In Memory of Surfer John Snizek, who taught alot of safety stuff. I miss him.

Bob Brennan
Coconut Grove, Florida

PS Be carefull take your time it will go quickly enough

phill ellison

hey steve be careful mate as I had an operation on my hand because of them bloody palms, had three spikes went right through me hand and they have nasty shit on the end of them spikes, one whole month off work, I would also recommend a cherry picker if you can asyou can have more control of the frons, but only if you can get access to the palms. I will send you some photos later this afternoon of the ones Ive done

kiwi_tree_steve

this is what i had envisioned as a plan.

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"You have to feel and touch a tree" Shigo

newguy18

Before ascending be sure to sterilize your spikes with round up,i like the tough brush killer.

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phill ellison

here them photos of those palms mate, give you an idea

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kiwi_tree_steve

thanks phill, so i should shave the old rotting fronds and the creepers off the trunk or leave them?

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phill ellison

you can shaved them off as they will come off eventally.As you can see in the photos I have cut the trunk a bit wider under the top to give it a bit of a character

kieren

if you can put a tarp at the base to collect all the crap you shave off makes cleaning up heaps quicker! get a good pair of rescue gloves they stop a lot of spikes you still want to be careful of the spines on the fond they hurt big time

vl2007

I use ropes to secure my ladder also, (top and bottom). The bidding on date palms that must be climbed starts at $250.00. If I don't need to climb them, around $75.00.

Bob Brennan

We do not use spikes on living trees anymore, except over 40 feet and I have not see a canary date palm that tall yet.

The new Scientists say it is better for the palms to not spike them, and If i can get away with not using spikes and not hurting my feet, ankles, and the tree.

Just got back from Fantasy Fest! Hope you can come to the King Mango Strutt Last Sunday in 2008 Downtown Coconut Grove, Fl 33133

King Mango Strut .org

How many times do you have to set the rope for the pulley?

Bob

kiwi_tree_steve

havent set, a rope like that, to work yet, however i have had good advice on this method.

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"You have to feel and touch a tree" Shigo

kieren

did some phonix palms today big dirty ugly ones one on the top of a cliff (nice view) full shave on one and heaps of dead fonds and remove a self seeded fig. I used the method i mentioned earlier works a treat and as for not wearing spikes the guys that do the research rarely do the work, if i climb palms i wear spikes if the lab guys dont like it they can come and climb them

vl2007

Here is a post with photos of the techq I use.

Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin.

newguy18

Spikeless DRT access, trunk walk etc. Featuring Brother Colin.

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TreeSpecialist

Climbing spikes should never be used any tree that is to remain in the landscape - especially palms.

Trunk wounds caused by spikes never "heal."

Climbing spikes lead to trunk decay and eventual trunk failure.


PP-219/PP143: Thielaviopsis Trunk Rot of Palm

If you set a line on a pulley (Black Widow bull line from Sherrill? - Sherrill Tree Climbing Supply: Professional Tree Care )

you can climb with no spikes. Works great without damaging the tree.

To those who insist on using spikes, it just shows your lack of professionalism. Perhaps you should leave palms to those who can climb without spikes.

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newguy18

Well you have fun Pat,i ain't trusting my life to the fronds of a palm.

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kiwi_tree_steve

so i got the job, and i doing it tomorrow, its kinda sick but i think im looking froward to it...................................................but i guess reality will kick in about 10 min into the job

steve

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kiwi_tree_steve

im planning on, useing my throw bag to install a climbing line, Attach a cambium saver with a butterfly hitch and 2 bina's, then running my climbing line through the cambium saver, pull that up to the base of the fronds, then tie off at the base of the trunk, with a running bowline ( secured with a double loop).

i also have spikes on board, possibly will use them with my lanyard, and a 10m climbing line. tying into 3 fronds at a time, kind of thinking this will be a bit easier to move around with

i get after pic's up after

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scooter1962

RUN - run as fast as you can away from the @%$#$er.

They're awful. I have three spikes in my leg from today's transplant!!!!