Doesn’t the tropical beauty of palm trees remind you of the cool breeze, rippling seawater, and the warm sand?
At the same time, their gigantic appearance drives your mind into the intricacies of maintaining them, and that’s something that may discourage you from planting palm trees in your backyard (given you have adequate space).
While we understand your concern, the good news is that trimming and pruning them isn’t an impossible task, especially when you have the right tools. That’s why we’ve curated this short guide on palm tree trimmers tools.
Without further ado, let’s begin!
What Are Some Tools Used For Trimming Palm Trees?
For starters, let’s say that you can’t just choose any tool for trimming your palm trees. The selection of suitable palm tree trimmers tools will depend on various factors like the overall size of the tree, the size of its fronds and stems, and the strength of the tissue fibers.
That said, there are certain tools that are generally used to keep them in shape. In the following sections, we will walk you through some of them along with the correct way of using each.
Cutting Blades
As surprising as it may sound, common cutting blades are among the most widely used tools for pruning or trimming dead fronds and trunk fibers. Again, the length and other specifications (like sharpness and teeth count) will depend on the exact variety of the palm tree.
You can use gardening scissors or attach these blades on hand pruners for trimming small stems that are under ¼-inch in diameter. Similarly, for stems with larger diameters or rigid and firm trunk tissues, you’d want to get long-armed loppers equipped with bigger blades. The extended arms can reach the interior of the stems or fronds concealed by the dense canopy.
Moreover, loppers with long handles shield your hands from sharp thorns and spikes, especially near the leaves.
Extension Poles
Much like you’d use for any other tall tree, the combination of a pruning blade and extension pole offers quite some reach to trim the fronds above your head. In this regard, you’d definitely want to go for an adjustable pole so that you can customize the trimming height as required, and you can do that while maintaining a firm footing on the ground.
A rope pulley usually controls the opening and closing of the cutting blade for making the cuts. Additionally, the blade and pole head acts as the arm to push, clasp, or pull the fronds.
If the extension pole is attached to a saw handle, it allows users to reach the frond-bases without a ladder. However, make sure that the saw blade is attached firmly and doesn’t pivot on the pole while trimming. On a side note, heavy-duty trimming is best and safely accomplished with a hydraulic lift or arm on a vehicle, provided you have the necessary expertise.
Shears
Shears are pretty effective for trimming different varieties of palm trees, including queen palms that are still at or slightly above the head. Naturally, long-handled shears with longer blades are suitable for cutting thick stems. The length of the handle will also come in handy for reaching the crown area without straining your muscles to a great extent.
Furthermore, you can use a shear to cut the fronds close to the trunk without shaving any part from the trunk itself.
Saws
As we have already mentioned, saws, particularly those with long handles, are ideal for trimming palm trees. We like how easy they are to hold at odd angles to let you get the desired cut.
For instance, if a queen palm has grown too tall to be trimmed with shears, you can still use a good-quality saw to shave the fronds off the tree. Likewise, it’s perfect for slicing off any nubs protruding from the trunk, especially those which couldn’t be clipped with shears. Just be careful not to strike the trunk.
A serrated knife may double as a mini saw to cut off flower stalks and smaller fronds measuring around 1-inch in diameter.
Other Related Tools
Contrary to expectation, the range of palm tree trimmers tools isn’t limited to the gears used for trimming or pruning. You’ll also need to factor in some “secondary tools” that help with the process.
Since palm trees can grow up to a height of 70 feet, you’d invariably need the right climbing gear for reaching the topmost branches. For trees that are 15 feet or less in height, an extendable ladder would be a good choice. Anything more, and you might want to hire a bucket lift, if feasible.
We’d strongly recommend using harnesses or climbing cables to prevent the risk of accidental falls. When you put on one, make sure that the fasts are secured properly. Beyond that, protective goggles and thick rubber gloves will protect the eyes and fingers from injury, respectively.
Tool Sanitization
All your tools should be thoroughly sanitized before and after pruning. If you plan on trimming multiple trees in one session with the same tools, we’d advise sanitizing them before you take on the next one. You can make a DIY solution by mixing 1 part bleach with 3 parts water for cleaning the blades.
Otherwise, use 70% to 100% isopropyl alcohol to wipe the blades clean without any soaking or rinsing. Some gardening experts also use household cleaners like Lysol, pine sol, and Listerine in a diluted solution. However, their efficiency for eliminating pathogens is a matter of debate.
Don’t use tools like chainsaws that can’t be sanitized. Although it may save time, it increases the risk of transferring bacteria and diseases from one tree to another.
Final Words
Hopefully, we have answered all your queries related to palm tree trimmers tools. But if you are growing palm trees for the first time or aren’t familiar with such varieties, don’t shy away from hiring professional help. Not only will your inexperience harm the tree, but it can also lead to serious accidents. Better to be safe than sorry, after all!
Need professional help when it comes to tree services in Hesperia CA? Contact us and get a quote now.