They are in the way.

[Steve Mac]

My mum used to say that one of the hardest things to predict, is the future.

I'm not going to dig them up, but just wondering what you would do. Trim them or brush past them.

I like brushing past them, but with the wetter winter coming and them encroaching all of the time,

You can't walk around the garden anymore without getting wet.

When we have visitors I feel that I should issue them all with a machete.

It is bad enough having to apologize for the mosquitoes ticks and leeches. 

If it makes any difference, what I'm looking at cutting back are,

 Ch radicalis, Ch hooperiana, Sy weddellianum, H belmoreana K piriformis and

we have a little Chambeyronia tied back with fishing line, that might go too.

It looks like many years before these babies are going to be out of the way.  

We like the jungle effect, but the path has become narrower and narrower over the years.

You can't carry a baby through anymore without getting a spider in it's face.

And I'm not saying that is not funny, it always is, but the discussion with mum about 'reluctance to bite', 'not very poisonous' ,'only localized swelling' 

etc slows down the whole procedure. Even identifying the cute little arachnid in latin, and handling it, does not calm some young mums.

Anyway it is no big deal to chop those leaves off....   right?

And how many of you would cut off half a leaf, since some of those only have 4 or 5 leaves, with the rate of one leaf a year.? 

 

 

 

[sur4z]

I see no problem  cutting off the encroaching fronds...save the palms.

[PalmatierMeg]

My whole back yard jungle looks like that. I try not to trim them if I can avoid it.

[DoomsDave]

I'm with Peter and Meg.

BUT when things are in the way, they get trimmed.

EGAD nasty arachnids! Do trim. A leaf here and and a leaf there, vs. "localized swelling"? Leaves are expendable!

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I was talking to someone trying to sell her home just last week about this very subject.  As I see it, you have four options:

1. Do nothing and enjoy your garden, relishing in every "Damn Jungle!" you hear.

2. Cut each offending leaf off.  As my Mother used to say "Each sacrifice brings you closer to Heaven."

3. Trim each leaf back only as far as needed to clear a path.  Try cutting the leaf back so the tip resembles a natural tip, not just cut straight through.

4. If you have basket weaving skillz, you can weave the leaflets back into themselves giving a unique look.  This is good for very noticeable palms close to your doorway or in a place of high traffic.

 

    

[PalmatierMeg]

3 hours ago, Jerry@TreeZoo said:

I was talking to someone trying to sell her home just last week about this very subject.  As I see it, you have four options:

1. Do nothing and enjoy your garden, relishing in every "Damn Jungle!" you hear.

2. Cut each offending leaf off.  As my Mother used to say "Each sacrifice brings you closer to Heaven."

3. Trim each leaf back only as far as needed to clear a path.  Try cutting the leaf back so the tip resembles a natural tip, not just cut straight through.

4. If you have basket weaving skillz, you can weave the leaflets back into themselves giving a unique look.  This is good for very noticeable palms close to your doorway or in a place of high traffic.

 

    

ooooh, I like #4

[Steve Mac]

Thanks guys and Jerry I'm going to try that folding back and weaving, that looks great.

[Palms4Steve]

 Mine get a trim after I've walked into them about fifty times.