Subject of what to do about lower leafs on a Jubaea Palm that is browning up or dead but won't fall off has been discussed many times. But recently I have realized after doing a little experimentation, that it is best to leave a dead leaf on the trunk until if falls off on its own. If a dead leaf is cut leaving a stub behind, the stub will persist for very long time often many years. But if the dead leaf its allowed to remain it will fall off much sooner than if cut to stub. Reason for this is the dead leaf is constantly pulling away from the trunk from gravity much more so than a cut stub, allowing for the attached fibers to break one by one until there is nothing holding the leaf to the trunk.

Forcing a leaf or stub away from the trunk should never be done, because it increases the chance of infection entering the wound. The Jubaea prepares in advance of a natural leaf breaking away from the trunk by retreating living tissues in the scar area so that when the leaf suddenly breaks away the wound it is already mostly healed and ready to harden off.

The same principle probably applies to many other Palm Species with normally smooth trunks. Climate, health and other factors do influence whether a leaf will break away from its trunk cleanly but trying to force a leaf or stub off the trunk is risky to the health of the palm.

Not always true.