DO NOT DO THIS! ABOUT SABAL PALMS , THE STATE TREE OF FLORIDA GREEN FRONDS are the palm’s source of nutrients! Cutting green fronds stunts growth, invites disease, and reduces the palm’s natural resilience to high winds. Harsh pruning takes away food and shelter from native and migratory songbirds, woodpeckers, butterflies, honey bees, treefrogs, bats, anoles, squirrels, and other wildlife. Over-pruned palms may develop weakened trunks, which will eventually cause them to break off and die. Work boots with climbing spikes incur wounds in the trunk, leaving the palm prone to disease. Palm fronds, berries, and boots: Brown fronds provide unique habitat for tree frogs and bats (chemical-free mosquito control). In nature, there is no waste. Recycle fallen palm fronds as mulch or a brush pile for wildlife. Palm berries are critical sources of highly nutritious food for many birds and other wildlife. Plant palms where berries and sprouts won’t be a problem. Palm “boots” (the leafbases) are important habitat for other plants, including many beautiful rare and endangered ferns. Perhaps a better understanding of the palm’s use by other creatures will enable us to see black fruits, brown fronds, and boots on the trunks as things of great value, if not beauty. Except when transplanting*
Bad for the tree! This is
JUST SAY NO to landscapers who want to prune green fronds, spring flowers and berries. Exclude annual harsh-pruning from your landscape contract.
THIS is NOT!
THIS is a healthy Sabal palm.
THIS TREE has had its food supply severely restricted. Furthermore, its flowering branches have been removed, eliminating a vital source of nectar for insects + berries for birds.
ONLY WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY: Prune hanging brown and yellow fronds. Not the boots! Pole pruners work best. Prune stems away from the trunk.
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*The “hurricane cut” (fronds only, not the boots) is standard practice when preparing mature palms for transplanting. Information sources include: University of Florida Extension Service; Betrock’s Guide to Landscape Palms , by Alan Meerow; An Illustrated Guide to Pruning , by Delmar Publishers; T he Sabal Palm: A Native Monarch , by Barbara Oehlbeck.
Gardeners: Check it out!
www.PlantRealFlorida.org www.FloridaNativeNurseries.org www.NativePlantShow.com
Updated April 2013
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