Best method for palm tree removal.

[JLM]

What is the best and cheapest method to remove two large Queen palms?

Its going to be a hard task for me, given emotional attachment to both palms, but I know one of these days it's gonna happen anyways. They're getting too tall to protect from the cold.

I've considered replacing both of them with mule palms. If anybody has a different suggestion on this part, that would also be good.

Any input is appreciated!

[SeanK]

How tall are they?

How did they do during Jan 2025 snow?

[JLM]

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

How tall are they?

How did they do during Jan 2025 snow?

Backyard Queen is by far the tallest. Hard to put an estimate on height.

Attached are pics from the snow we got this January. They were not damaged by the snow to amount to much, temperature only got to 31F during that event. January 2025 on the other hand, they were both wrapped with the lights/sheets/plastic method, but only the trunks. They were defoliated just as bad at 12F as they were this winter at 20F.

[FlaPalmLover]

A chainsaw and a shovel. 

[Harry’s Palms]

For removal , I would hire a tree service to take them down . Get quotes from different ones . After my huge Caryota fell down , I was quoted $1700 to remove and dispose of the tree by my regular trimmers. It was laying across my neighbors driveway so I didn’t have time to source it out . I had two friends with chainsaws ready to help but  a landscape company was working across the street and offered to do it for $250! They had it cut up in less than an hour. After the work was complete , they hauled it off. Then I got a text from my regular trimmers saying they would do it for $700 …..as a favor. “ No thank you “ was my response. Harry

[TropicsEnjoyer]

If you have an hour or two of free time coupled with a chainsaw and a ladder I don’t see why you couldn’t just do it yourself and save a 2,3,400+$. I think a chainsaw would cut it up decently quick as long as the trunks aren’t thicker than average. You could always just keep the trunk chunks, dry them out, and burn them as firewood later on. 

Also personally I wouldn’t bother digging up the stump/root zone if you don’t have to. A lot of extraneous labor for something that can easily be covered up with a few flowering bushes and mulch. Unless you plan to plant a new palm in the exact same spot I would just let nature do the decomposition for you. 

[happypalms]

That’s a pretty easy job, plenty of room around the one in the picture.  As I theres have suggested a chainsaw or tree removal service. Chainsaws can be dangerous in some people’s hands, and a tree service some people don’t have that dory of money. You could use a strong rope and start to winch it in the direction you want it to fall for the bigger one, then remove the roots and soil around the back of you’repslm  winching as you go. To remove the soil obviously a bit of work and to cut the roots use sawzill or reciprocating saw or whatever you guys call them. Plumbers use reciprocating saws to cut all sorts of things very effectively. The one in the open that’s smaller same technique, winch away, if you have 4 wheel drive hook her up and you would virtually pull that one over with a bit of soil root pruning. Or just use you reciprocating saw to cut off at the base again winching in the direction you want them to fall. Ladders are dangerous with cutting equipment and in unskilled hands, we have all watched you tube and seen what happens and a hospital trip later on. If you are skilled in using a chainsaws same technique winch away and cut! Another method a bit slower drill a hole and pour a herbicide into it the palm will eventually die and if you watch it you can winch in the right direction at the required time to bring down, either way or whatever technique used don’t forget yell out  timber as she falls just for some fun!!!

[JLM]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

That’s a pretty easy job, plenty of room around the one in the picture.  As I theres have suggested a chainsaw or tree removal service. Chainsaws can be dangerous in some people’s hands, and a tree service some people don’t have that dory of money. You could use a strong rope and start to winch it in the direction you want it to fall for the bigger one, then remove the roots and soil around the back of you’repslm  winching as you go. To remove the soil obviously a bit of work and to cut the roots use sawzill or reciprocating saw or whatever you guys call them. Plumbers use reciprocating saws to cut all sorts of things very effectively. The one in the open that’s smaller same technique, winch away, if you have 4 wheel drive hook her up and you would virtually pull that one over with a bit of soil root pruning. Or just use you reciprocating saw to cut off at the base again winching in the direction you want them to fall. Ladders are dangerous with cutting equipment and in unskilled hands, we have all watched you tube and seen what happens and a hospital trip later on. If you are skilled in using a chainsaws same technique winch away and cut! Another method a bit slower drill a hole and pour a herbicide into it the palm will eventually die and if you watch it you can winch in the right direction at the required time to bring down, either way or whatever technique used don’t forget yell out  timber as she falls just for some fun!!!

That's a good idea with the winching. I'll figure something out. The least amount of money I have to spend the better. I'd rather put the money towards the replacement palms than the the removal of the current ones.

I appreciate everyone's responses!