Pruning a palm tree is not difficult, but it is important to know which leaves to remove and which to leave. This is especially true for the popular Trachycarpus fortunei, which is sometimes pruned too enthusiastically. Healthy green leaves serve an important function for the palm and are best left in place.
When pruning a palm tree, therefore, you should mainly remove old, completely brown or damaged leaves. You should never prune away the growing point at the top of the palm. This is where the palm tree produces its new leaves.
In this guide you will read when is the best time to prune a palm tree, how to do it and which mistakes are best avoided. Would you like to know more about the plant itself first? Then read our comprehensive guide to the Trachycarpus fortunei.
Palm tree pruning at a glance
| Part | Advice |
|---|---|
| Best time | Spring or early summer |
| Which leaves to prune? | Mainly completely brown or dead leaves |
| Prune green leaves? | Preferably not |
| Prune the growing point? | Never |
| Tools | Sharp and clean pruning shears or branch shears |
| After winter | If in doubt, wait for new growth first |
A palm tree therefore does not need to be regularly pruned into shape like many shrubs and trees. Pruning is mainly intended to remove dead and damaged leaves.
When is the best time to prune a palm tree?
The best time to prune a palm tree is generally in the spring or early summer. The palm is then actively growing again and any winter damage can be better assessed.
After a cold winter, a Trachycarpus may have several brown or damaged leaves. Do not cut them all off on the first sunny day. First wait until it becomes clear which leaves have actually died and whether healthy new leaves are emerging from the growing point.
During the growing season, you can also remove completely dead leaves when necessary.
Would you like to know why palm leaves discolor after winter or during the season? Then also read our article about brown leaves on a palm tree.
Which leaves of a Trachycarpus fortunei can you prune?
A healthy Trachycarpus fortunei continuously produces new fan leaves from the center of the crown. As the palm grows, the oldest leaves at the bottom of the crown eventually turn yellow and then brown.
This is a natural process.
You can remove completely brown and dead leaves. Severely damaged leaves can also be removed when it is clear that they no longer serve an important function.
Leaves that are still largely green are best left in place. The palm uses these leaves for photosynthesis and thus for its growth.
A few brown leaf tips are therefore no reason to cut off the entire leaf immediately.
How do you prune a Trachycarpus fortunei?
The pruning itself is quite simple. Use sharp and clean pruning shears or branch shears, depending on the thickness of the leaf stems.
Cut off a dead leaf at the leaf stem. Work carefully towards the trunk and prevent cutting into the trunk while pruning.
On older Trachycarpus palms, parts of the old leaf stems and fibers around the trunk often remain visible after removing the leaves. This is part of the characteristic appearance of this palm.
Work slowly around the crown of a larger palm and only remove the leaves that you are sure can be removed.
Do you still have a young palm? In our guide about how fast a Trachycarpus fortunei grows you can read more about the development of this palm.
Never prune the growing point of a palm tree
This is perhaps the most important rule when pruning a palm tree: never damage the growing point.
On a Trachycarpus fortunei, the growing point is located at the top in the center of the crown. New leaves emerge from this central part.
A palm grows differently than many ordinary trees. You therefore cannot simply cut off the top to make the palm smaller or fuller.
Also be careful when removing old leaves close to the crown. Only prune the leaf stem that you actually want to remove and stay away from new leaves in the center.
Can you prune a palm tree smaller?
You cannot prune a palm tree smaller in the same way as an ordinary tree or shrub.
With many garden plants, you can shorten branches, after which new branches form. However, a Trachycarpus fortunei grows from its central growing point. You therefore cannot top the trunk to limit the height.
Do you have little space? Then it is wiser to take the final size and location of the palm into account beforehand.
This is especially true when you want to plant it permanently in the garden. Therefore, read beforehand how to plant a palm tree in the ground.
Should you prune a palm tree after winter?
After winter, it is tempting to remove all damaged leaves immediately. However, it is better to first see how the palm recovers.
A hardy palm such as the Trachycarpus fortunei may have leaf damage after a cold period while the plant itself is still healthy.
Above all, check whether the central growing point is intact and wait for new growth if you are in doubt. As soon as it is clear which leaves have completely died, you can remove them.
How well a palm can withstand winter conditions also varies by species and situation. In our guide about hardy palm trees in the Netherlands you can read more about this.
Common mistakes when pruning a palm tree
The most important mistake is removing too many healthy leaves. A tightly pruned crown may look neat, but a palm needs its green leaves.
Other mistakes you are better off avoiding are:
- damaging the central growing point;
- removing green leaves without reason;
- working with dull or dirty tools;
- cutting into the trunk;
- drawing conclusions too quickly after frost damage;
- trying to make the palm lower by sawing off the top.
With a healthy palm, pruning sparingly is usually the best approach.
Caring for a palm tree after pruning
After light pruning, a palm normally does not need any complicated aftercare.
Above all, continue to provide good basic care. Check the soil moisture, prevent the roots from standing in soaking wet soil for long periods, and provide appropriate nutrition during the growing season.
Is your palm in a planter? Then take into account that the soil may dry out faster. Read more about this in our guide about keeping a palm tree in a pot.
For all the care components together, you can view our complete guide to caring for a palm tree.
Buy Trachycarpus fortunei at Olivera Garden
Thanks to its characteristic fan leaves, the Trachycarpus fortunei is a popular choice for a Mediterranean look in the garden or on the patio.
At Olivera Garden you will find various palm trees that are delivered directly from Dutch growers.
Would you like to further expand the Mediterranean look? Then also check out our olive trees or discover the complete range of Mediterranean trees and plants.
Frequently asked questions about pruning a palm tree
1. When should you prune a palm tree?
Spring and early summer are suitable times to prune a palm tree. You can then properly assess which leaves have completely died after winter.
2. How do you prune a Trachycarpus fortunei?
Above all, remove completely brown and dead leaves. Carefully cut off the leaf stem with clean and sharp tools and prevent damaging the trunk or the growing point.
3. Can you cut off green leaves from a palm tree?
It is better to leave healthy green leaves in place. They are important for photosynthesis and thus for the growth of the palm.
4. Can you saw off the top of a palm tree?
No. A Trachycarpus fortunei grows from the central growing point at the top of the palm. When you seriously damage or remove this growing point, the palm cannot continue to grow in the same way.
5. Should you remove brown leaves from a palm tree?
You can remove completely brown and dead leaves. A leaf with only a few brown tips does not need to be cut off completely immediately.
6. How often should you prune a Trachycarpus fortunei?
A Trachycarpus fortunei does not need a fixed annual pruning to stay in shape. Remove dead or severely damaged leaves when necessary and leave healthy green leaves in place as much as possible.
