How do I clean trunk on Washingtonia spp?

[velutina]

What tool do professional tree pruners use to clean the boots off the trunk of Washingtonias? I have a bunch of W. robustas in my yard that I want to prune myself, but don't know what tool gets the best results. Anyone ever watch a professional clean a trunk?

[Rafael]

Firstly stop your insect

[freakypalmguy]

A plain old razor knife or exacto.

[carver]

My favorite boot cleaner, the linolium knife. Followed by some triple antibiotic and bandaids.

[Alicehunter2000]

Firstly stop your insect

I thought something was crawling on my screen....tried to smash it with my finger.

[velutina]

I have a carpet knife. It works, but doesn't get the same clean look as the professionally-cleaned trees. Plus, I have a lot of palms to clean so was hoping to know the best power tool to buy.

[Kris]

Beautiful still !

[Peter Pacific]

I have a few W. filiferas (my robustas are still tiny) that are getting tall and I´ve cleaned them with a sharp machete, or a saw with a serrated edge. BUT...aren´t we supposed to leave the skirt on them? The old dead fronds covering the trunk is what makes them unique. I´ve trimmed them to get a better view of the garden and, at the height they are, about 5 or 6 meters (18 feet)a cleaner trunk adds to the visibility. Unless you live in Palm Springs, where it´s the law because of a fire hazard, why not leave the fronds in place?

Peter

[John in Andalucia]

As I understand it, this thread is about removing the old boots, not removing fronds? That's a different tool altogether. Here are some Washingtonia in our area. This photo shows recently cleaned sections of trunk. I've done this myself on our two Washies using a sharp knife. Practice makes perfect, as they say. Our local parks division use a curved blade that you hold centred in your hand, applying a rocking motion.

[Trópico]

Mine fall on their own, and I make the trunk neat just by rubbing the fibers off with my hand.

[velutina]

I have a few W. filiferas (my robustas are still tiny) that are getting tall and I´ve cleaned them with a sharp machete, or a saw with a serrated edge. BUT...aren´t we supposed to leave the skirt on them? The old dead fronds covering the trunk is what makes them unique. I´ve trimmed them to get a better view of the garden and, at the height they are, about 5 or 6 meters (18 feet)a cleaner trunk adds to the visibility. Unless you live in Palm Springs, where it´s the law because of a fire hazard, why not leave the fronds in place?

Peter

When you live in Las Vegas and 90% of the palms are Washingtonia, it is a cleaned trunk that makes them unique. It also gives them more of a tropical appearance IMO. Plus, I think the HOA I live in would throw a fit if I left the skirts on.

But like John in Andalucia said, I'm talking about the removing the boots to get a smooth trunk.

As I understand it, this thread is about removing the old boots, not removing fronds? That's a different tool altogether. Here are some Washingtonia in our area. This photo shows recently cleaned sections of trunk. I've done this myself on our two Washies using a sharp knife. Practice makes perfect, as they say. Our local parks division use a curved blade that you hold centred in your hand, applying a rocking motion.

Interesting. I'd like to learn more about the curved blade. I have 10+ washies that I'd like to clean, so doing it without power tools might be a PITA...

Thanks for the replies!

[Rafael]

Firstly stop your insect

I thought something was crawling on my screen....tried to smash it with my finger.

It seems he didnt approve it!

[MattyB]

I use my teeth.

[PalmatierMeg]

We get a lot of high winds here in SWFL (not including hurricanes). I find boots and dead fronds fall on their own on windy days. Our W.r. tends to wear a bare trunk and a mini-skirt. I'm surprised Nevada isn't even windier.

[velutina]

FINALLY got to watch a professional trim the boots off. He was 30' in the air with only a carpet knife/razor. Using the razor held at 90 degrees to the trunk, he would cut one boot off at a time, using circular cuts around the trunk.

The technique I used before used the same tool but left lots of fibers on the trunk. The trick is to cut around the whole palm about once per centimeter and hold the blade at 90 degrees.

[malcthomas]

FINALLY got to watch a professional trim the boots off. He was 30' in the air with only a carpet knife/razor. Using the razor held at 90 degrees to the trunk, he would cut one boot off at a time, using circular cuts around the trunk.

The technique I used before used the same tool but left lots of fibers on the trunk. The trick is to cut around the whole palm about once per centimeter and hold the blade at 90 degrees.

My brother has become a gun at cleaning washies, trachies and Livistona and goes about it as you have described. He just uses a small very sharp Swiss Army knife...Here's some of his handy work on some young L.australis.

The older boots on a washy should pull off by hand (gloved) and I use these for lighting the bbq fire. A weed eater/whacker cleans off the fibre under the pulled off boots..

cheers...

[dan.vagnoni]

Yeah, I think the tradtional california cleaning method only requires a lighter...

[Chris Chance]

I used to live in Vegas and its nice to keep the washies clean. One thing I had a problem with is scorpions, they were all over but they love to hang out under the boots.

[Jastin]

I used to live in Vegas and its nice to keep the washies clean. One thing I had a problem with is scorpions, they were all over but they love to hang out under the boots.

I'm always wondering whats gonna be under my stuff, I guess its not that smart to just chance it!

[DoomsDave]

I have a few W. filiferas (my robustas are still tiny) that are getting tall and I´ve cleaned them with a sharp machete, or a saw with a serrated edge. BUT...aren´t we supposed to leave the skirt on them? The old dead fronds covering the trunk is what makes them unique. I´ve trimmed them to get a better view of the garden and, at the height they are, about 5 or 6 meters (18 feet)a cleaner trunk adds to the visibility. Unless you live in Palm Springs, where it´s the law because of a fire hazard, why not leave the fronds in place?

Peter

To paraphrase the Trammps (and Palm Springs):

BURN BABY BURN! PALM TREE INFERNOOOOOOOO

BURN BABY BURN! BURN THE MOTHER DOWN . . .

In a place like the Phillipines, where it's moist, those skirts get all mildewy and ugly and rot on the tree.

Best to trim!

[velutina]

I used to live in Vegas and its nice to keep the washies clean. One thing I had a problem with is scorpions, they were all over but they love to hang out under the boots.

I have lived here 4 years and have yet to see a scorpion. I have heard of many scorpion sightings and they usually occur on the outskirts of town or near the mountains.

I agree about keeping the washies clean. 90%+ of the palms in Las Vegas are W. robusta and keeping the trunks clean really makes them stand out.

[Chris Chance]

Its true that you see them on the outer parts of town more. If you get a black light and walk around your yard at night you will find out for sure if you have them. I think its cool to see scorpions glowing.