Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Trim a Palmetto Palm
How to Trim a Palmetto Palm. Palmetto palm, also known as Cabbage palm or Sabal palmetto, is a perennial palm tree found in the southeastern part of the United States, the Bahamas and Cuba. Palmetto palms have the ability to self-prune when their old leaves, called fronds, are knocked off by wind. However, if trimming does become necessary,...
Palmetto palm, also known as Cabbage palm or Sabal palmetto, is a perennial palm tree found in the southeastern part of the United States, the Bahamas and Cuba. Palmetto palms have the ability to self-prune when their old leaves, called fronds, are knocked off by wind. However, if trimming does become necessary, trimming back old fronds and seed pods can be beneficial as long as it is done correctly and with moderation in mind.
Things You'll Need
Pole tree pruner
Ladder
Trim off any fronds that are a brown or yellow and any flowers with your pole tree pruner. Trim back to about 1 inch away from the trunk.
Remove any boots (old leaf stems) that are loose and come off easily by hand.
Position your ladder on steady ground, and climb it, using your pole tree pruner to reach dead fronds that you cannot reach from the ground.
Recycle the cut fronds by composting them and using them as mulch around the tree.
Tips & Warnings
If you are trimming your palm in the fall, trim the seed pods as well as the fronds.
Palmetto palms can be damaged during trimming, so only trim the tree when necessary and never overdo it. Avoid cutting green fronds, because this will make the palm vulnerable to disease and high winds. Be careful not to damage the trunk of the tree, it will not heal well.
