multi trunk king palm

8 years ago

I just planted a king palm tree. it has 4 trunks: one main trunk and 3 smaller ones.

I'm concerned about this leading to 4 big trees fighting for space and sun exposure in a few years. My yard is not very large, so I'm considering cutting off the 3 small trunks.

Is it a bad idea? Can this damage the surviving trunk? Will other trunks sprout and grow in the future?

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Okay, say you cut the tops off the 3, the part of the trees that's below the ground will die. Granted, they may re-sprout and have to be cut off again, maybe multiple times but eventually the root portion and trunks will die. Once they die they will rot. Generally with many kinds of trees, rotting wood that's very close to a healthy tree can spread the rot to the healthy tree, killing the whole clump.

Again, I do not know if palms will do this. But most trees will.

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Comments (10)

toronado_3800
8 years ago
This forum is not frequented by the most palm fellows. Ideally I'd probably start with a single trunk tree but I suppose that's too late.

Is this in the back corner of your 200 foot deep yard where it won't ever fall on your grand kids? Or is it gonna be growing over your home?
User
8 years ago
I know nothing about palms but found this discussion from the palm forum.

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/clumping-king-palm-dsvw-vd~2107108[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/clumping-king-palm-dsvw-vd~2107108)

Sounds like King palms are many times grown as clumps and separating them could kill them.
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stlafon
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks. I'm not even thinking of separating them, but just cutting the 3 smaller trunks and leaving the main one intact.
Tootsie
8 years ago
How long are you planning to stay here? If it’s under 10-15 years I wouldn’t worry about it.
stlafon
Original Author
8 years ago
Oh I'm planning for the long term. So yeah, for the next 15 years.
Sara Malone Zone 9b
8 years ago
Some palms naturally make clumps, others naturally are single-trunked. Read up on this one and find out what its growth habit is. It's hard to fight a plant's nature forever...if this one is a clumper and you want a single trunk, might be better to start over with a different choice.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
this MI boy knows nothing about palms ...

but when i google pix on the latin name ... i see the vast potential of these palms ...

it seems to jump out at me.. that this clump is much too close to that fence ...

i would think it needs to be pulled out at least 3 feet from corner ... diagonally ....

and since you say you just planted it... perhaps a redo is in order ...

but this isnt my wheelhouse.. so i will defer to anyone with actual experience ....

ken
hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
8 years ago
It's planted very close to the fence. With multi trunks (which are quite attractive actually) they tend to angle outwards from each other; might push your fence over eventually, or be deformed by your fence.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
on vacation somewhere ... i recall sometime during mid week ... it was palm pruning time.. and some monkey man shimmied up the 30 to 50 foot trunk.. and hacked off the old dead fronds??? ... to avoid fronds falling and crushing guests i suppose ....

is this the type of palm that will need that ... and how long will it take to get to that size ...

my point.. if i have one .. is this really a tree for a small backyard ...???

btw .. in a tree vs wood fence smack down ... i would put my money on the tree ... rather than the fence.. lol ...

ken