If you're new to palm tree pruning, it may seem a bit intimidating at first. After all, palm tree trunks can be easily wounded by improper pruning or lack of care. Since palm trees rely on maintaining most of their leaves in order to produce food, you'll want to prune the tree carefully if you need to do it. Too much pruning may actually weaken your tree. Here are some tips to keep in mind before you prune that tree for the first time.

The Tools You Need

Before you prune your palm tree, you need to stock up on the basics. Since most palm tree trunks have sharp edges and spines, you'll need protective gear to avoid cuts and other injuries. Buy a pair of thick gloves that you can wear while you're working, and always wear long pants and sleeves when you're pruning the tree. Buy a set of pruning shears for small work and invest in a pruning saw for larger tasks.

Caring For Your Tools

Pruning shears and saws must be properly cared for to avoid infecting your tree with a fungal disease. Palm trees are particularly vulnerable to many fungal infections, so you need to keep your tools clean. After each tree that you prune, soak your tools in a bucket of equal parts bleach and water for five or ten minutes. Then, rinse them completely before you move to the next tree. This keeps you from accidentally spreading an infection you didn't know was there.

Proper Steps for Leaf Removal

If you have leaves on your palm tree that are browning, shriveling or showing other discoloration around the outer edges, you need to remove them so that they don't spread the problem to the rest of the tree. Use a sturdy ladder so that you can reach the leaves more easily. Remove only the palm fronds that are dying or already dead; don't take the healthy ones. Trim right where the palm fronds meet the trunk, but be careful that you don't puncture or wound the trunk as you work. If you can't safely reach the top of the tree, you'll want to call a tree trimming contractor for more help.

A professional tree trimming service like McGinty Bros., Inc. Professional Lawn & Tree Care can not only help you ensure that your tree is pruned correctly, but they can often identify potential problems with your trees that you might not recognize. By having your palm trees evaluated once or twice a year, even if they don't need pruning, you can ensure that they stay healthy.