We are officially in hurricane season! On top of the hurricane preparations we have all become accustomed to, there are some common landscaping mistakes that contribute to damage during a storm. Let’s talk about what to do and not to do when prepping your palms for the season.
Understanding Palms
Palms are naturally prepared for the strong winds and rains that come during the summer season in Florida. Their trunks and fronds are flexible, which allows them to sway with the wind. This feature minimizes the risk of the tree snapping or uprooting. For this reason, do not tie palms or strap them down as this can actually make them more vulnerable to breakage. A healthy palm will withstand the winds. If you have a palm that you feel could be a structural hazard, it is recommended that you consult with a certified arborist for guidance.
Hurricane Pruning
Palms do not need to be pruned for hurricane season. Yes, you read that right. Hurricane pruning is a myth. Besides the basic maintenance of removing completely dead fronds, damaged leaves, and seeds/fruit, you should not remove palm fronds. “Hurricane pruning” is actually damaging your palm and creating a potential hazard.
Palms store nutrients in their leaves, so you should not trim healthy yellowing palm leaves. Palms transfer nutrients from the older leaves to new growth, which is why the older fronds die and brown. Yellow or browning fronds with some green are still a nutrient source, so only remove them when completely brown. Depending on the palm species, some are “self-pruning” while others will not quickly drop their dead fronds. Regardless of the species, pruning should only be done on dead fronds. Pruning to remove completely brown fronds, broken fronds, and seeds is always acceptable. Simply put, leave green fronds intact to aid in the tree’s stability and health. A good rule of thumb is to keep all fronds that are above the horizontal plane (like the 9 to 3 positions on a clock).
An unfortunate result of over pruning or “hurricane pruning” of palms, is something called pencil-pointing. Pencil pointing is when the heart of the palm weakens and thins to resemble the tip of a pencil. The plant becomes weakened over time by the loss nutrients from healthy frond removal and the bud will easily break from the trunk. A palm without a bud is a dead palm as this is the only growing point on these plants. Picture a tall grass plant – removing the “crown” or area where roots grow down and the blades grow up will kill the plant. Palms are not trees at all, in fact, they are basically tall grass plants. Removing or damaging the bud or “growing point” at the base of the canopy will kill the palm just like with a grass plant. Pencil pointing from excessive pruning is a common reason why palms fail especially in high winds.
Remember
Never prune green palm fronds or trim to achieve the classic “pineapple cut.” Cut fronds close to the trunk, but not into the trunk itself. Do not pull or tear off fronds. Always sterilize your tools between each palm to prevent pest and diseases. Your palms will thank you! Watch a segment of Tampa Bay’s morning blend where Dr. Whitney Elmore talks hurricane prep and palms!
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