Pruning

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3-cut pruning method
1. First cut
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3-cut pruning method
2. Second cut
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3-cut pruning method
3. Final cut
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3-cut pruning method
CODIT will begin the sealing process
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Pruning Palms

• Right plant, right place!!!!!
• Remove dead and diseased fronds regularly
• Remove coconuts, seed pods, fruits and flowers as
  needed
• Remove sprouts or stems to maintain single trunk

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Palms are different than trees!
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Pruning Palms

• Green fronds make food!!! (older fronds store
  nutrients)
• Results in permanent stunting
• Bottlenecking, pencil pointing
• Makes palms weaker during a wind event

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Pruning Palms

• Invites insects and diseases
• Makes heart cold-sensitive and susceptible to
  frosts and freezes
• Continual excess pruning of cabbage palms may
  increase flowering, which can stress the plant

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Pruning Palms

• May result in premature death if palms are
  potassium and/or magnesium deficient
• Removing too many fronds compromises the ability
  of the crown to withstand wind events

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How do you prune palms?
Follow the 3 oclock, 9 oclock rule!
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How do you prune palms?
This angle removes too many green fronds!
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Pruning Palms
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Palms dont heal or seal!
Do not use spikes or lean ladders against stems
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Finallypruning tools

• Keep tools sharp
• Buy the best you can afford
• Store them properly
• And

Sanitize, sanitize, and sanitize again!
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Disinfecting Pruning Tools

• Alcohol dips
• Alcohol and flaming
• Household products such as Lysol, Listerine,
  Pine-Sol
• Lysol proven to be least corrosive
• 10 bleach and water solution
• Bleach may be highly corrosive

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Additional Resources

• http//hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/pruning/ -
  extensive website containing lots and lots of
  pruning information (pictures, too!) by Dr. Ed
  Gilman

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Lets go outside and prune!