Pruning tall palms…

[NorCalWill]

Was just curious how people here (do it yourselfers) are pruning their tall, 20’+ palms.

I used a tall ladder and pole saw today on a group of Parajubaea coccoides. I got 2 out of 4 of them cleaned up pretty good in 4 hours, but what a literal pain in the neck…along with getting covered in a mess of palm debris. 
 

Working from the end of a ladder is very risky, just ask my shoulder surgeon. I suppose at some point some type of equipment is needed, which can be tricky to navigate through the garden…something to consider when planting.

[RyManUtah]

Climbing tree stand works nicely on a smoother trunk.
Heavily booted? - pole saw / ladder / harness.  

[ruskinPalms]

This is the ultimate reality, end game, it’s the fruiting and seeding realization we all need to think about. These palms get bigger than we ever plan….and they make fruit!! Which in my case has been a pain in the butt because the fruit grows!  Sorry… I didn’t give you any advice or help. But, in the future think about self cleaning palms…(doesn’t help with fruit/seed problem though so much). So, back to the question: hire someone to do it. It is worth your money to not get injured trying a DYI trim. But, don’t be afraid to ask how they sterilize their equivalent…A very wise man once told me you do the job you’re trained to do,I’ll do the job I’m trained to do, get paid, and I’ll pay you to do what you’re trained to do.

[Steve Mac]

The risks that I have taken over the years are not to be recommended. 

I was lucky to survive the ladders planks and contraptions that I climbed on with a reciprocating saw.

[ruskinPalms]

  On 7/27/2021 at 12:17 AM, Steve Mac said:

The risks that I have taken over the years are not to be recommended. 

I was lucky to survive the ladders planks and contraptions that I climbed on with a reciprocating saw.

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That post comes from my own stupidity over the years. Just hire people to do the risky, ladder stuff..