One hazard of an untrimmed palm (just like many pines) is it can be a catastrophic fire hazard in the presence of vandals and/or little kids playing with matches.

Also, you can trim as an ongoing occasional thing; it doesn't have to be an annual event. Just use a saw on a stick.

Thirdly, it's up on a rise and is also quite likely surrounded by plastic under the gravel. It is thirsty, a common problem.

Good points Grubby. Thank you. Anyone else have insights?

Hi there, yup, it's definitely a date palm. I like it! Once the leaves start to seriously yellow/brown then yes, it's time to trim them off (as close as possible). If the leaves are new-ish or all-green it's best to leave them attached as they're making food from light for the plant. Autumn/spring are good times to trim them so no part of the plant suddenly gets exposed to ferocious summer sun by the sudden removal of fronds.

I can't say whether to do it yourself or hire someone. If it was mine I'd to it myself, but lots of times professionals do a much better job, with many things, than I do, hah.

Fun pics/discussion! Happy gardening!

Grant

Thanks Grant. Good info that I will take to heart. After Grubby's post about the saw on a stick, I have done some research and believe I will get one of those and give it a go once the temperature drops some (couple months).

Hi Dewey,

This date palm to me is the most majestic and beautiful. It is the same plam you see lining entries to Hotels.

Palm trimming for date palms ideally is between April and June AFTER the seed pods are extended and showing. The lower yellowing fronds should be removed and you want to trim to a 10:00-2:00 position with the fronds. Any more than that can damage the palm and you don't want to do that! These palms are costly and add equity to your property landscape. You also want to trim after the seed pods off. You want to do this each year Some people actually with keep the dates and eat them.

Palms like water and have a single root system. If you place a soaker hose close to the base (6-8" out) and do a deep soak (penetration to 2 feet) every 2 weeks in the summer your palm should be fine.

Palms grow new fronds from the center top and the lower the leaves the more energy has been used and they begin to die.

You can trim these yourself but they are very spiky! A certified Arborist Tree Company would charge approx. $100-150 to trim.

It is a beautiful palm, and I wish you lots of luck with it!

Thanks Bella. Can you provide more detail on what you mean by 10:00-2:00 position? Do you mean an individual frond should be cut in a curved shape (as if cutting from 10:00 to 2:00 when viewed from the top or bottom) rather than just cutting it straight? Or is there some other intent by that reference? I appreciate your insights!

Correct me if I'm wrong but in my opinion this looks like a pineapple palm (phoenix canariensis) not a date palm. If it is, Ive got 7 of them at my house, I love these even though they are really slow growers. Regardless, everyones advice was spot on in my opinion.

That's a Canary Date Palm. I have a big one in my backyard. Quite challenging to trim. Lots of huge spines near the base of each frond.

I call them all "date palms" probably incorrectly, hah. How do you tell a culinary date palm from a Canary island date palm, Colinhanke and Raimeiken?? I'd love to learn! Happy gardening all!

Canary date palms are easy to tell from the way they're commonly trimmed to look like a pineapple on the head of them. Plus they're trunks are fatter than a regular date palm

Thanks, Raimeiken. I always thought those differences were strictly due to the way they're trimmed (pineapple palms with more of the frond stub left behind rather than completely cut off). Good info, thanks!

Thank you so much, Fascist_Nation. Outstanding info, I read through it all. Very helpful!

I love a neat palm...however, the fronds are a source of nutrition for the tree so it's usually best to leave the until they are 75% or more brown. This way you know the tree has gotten all it can from the frond and you won't hurt it but trimming it away.

Make sure you sanitize your tools if you trim more than one or that you hire an arborist that sanitizes properly. Those are susceptible to a strain of fusarium that's going around and one of the ways it is spread is on tools. My neighbors yard full of canary date palms got infected a while back, so sad watching them slowly die.