Pruned or Unpruned

[ZPalms]

Just Curious to see everyone's opinions on Pruned vs Unpruned crowns, for me I love leaving palms exactly how they grow I love the look of a full crown even with the dead fronds. 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 15, 2021 by ZPalms

[ck_in_fla]

Unfortunately, when Sabals are transplanted, it is essential to prune them back as they cannot maintain full crowns as they re-grow roots and establish themselves in their new location.

So, this is one of the few reasons to drastically prune these palms.

[NorCalWill]

For me it's about the setting. I prefer pruned leaves in most landscaped gardens with some exceptions, like the classic skirted Washingtonia filifera that line the streets in Palm Springs, CA.
Too many unpruned palms in a garden however, and the whole thing looks unkempt and in need of maintenance in my opinion.

[Billeb]

I vote pruned but not so drastically. I’m not BBC a fan of the dead leaf look 

[ZPalms]

  On 5/15/2021 at 3:14 PM, ck_in_fla said:

Unfortunately, when Sabals are transplanted, it is essential to prune them back as they cannot maintain full crowns as they re-grow roots and establish themselves in their new location.

So, this is one of the few reasons to drastically prune these palms.

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I'm just talking in general for any palm but good to note thanks! 

[96720]

I only trim dead fronds that’s why I like palms that shed their old fronds 

[NCFM]

It depends on the palm for me.  Generally I just prune fronds once they're completely brown and dead,  but in my opinion palmetto actually looks best when you leave some dead ones on to create that lollipop look:

 

[PalmatierMeg]

  On 5/16/2021 at 4:47 AM, NC_Palm_Enthusiast said:

It depends on the palm for me.  Generally I just prune fronds once they're completely brown and dead,  but in my opinion palmetto actually looks best when you leave some dead ones on to create that lollipop look:

 

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Agree. I love the "puffball on a stick" look. There's no reason to hurricane cut a Sabal like they do in FL. Tree cutters scalp every Sabal palmetto they can find but ignore queens, which are serious fall hazards. If ever there was a palm that can cope with a cat 5 hurricane, it's Sabal palmetto.

[RyManUtah]

I like them pruned until the full crown can be overhead. I like a little dead skirt on tall palms that allow it. 

[ZPalms]

  On 5/16/2021 at 2:12 PM, PalmatierMeg said:

Agree. I love the "puffball on a stick" look. There's no reason to hurricane cut a Sabal like they do in FL. Tree cutters scalp every Sabal palmetto they can find but ignore queens, which are serious fall hazards. If ever there was a palm that can cope with a cat 5 hurricane, it's Sabal palmetto.

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I love the full crown on sabals, They wouldn't grow the way they do if they couldn't survive hurricane speeds naturally on their own 

[donalt]

when it comes to sabals, I say NO to pruning....they look horrible (like the end of a pencil) when pruned, but beautiful when natural.