Pruning Mexican Fan Palms - Knowledgebase Question

San Antonio, Tx
Avatar for idkathryn
Question by idkathryn
August 30, 2005
My husband is threatning to prune my Mexican fan palms by cutting off the leaves across the top to keep it from getting to tall. The base is about 3 feet tall and the leaves bring it to about 6 feet. will this kill my palm. Can you recomend a dwarf palm that will do well in S. Texas?


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Answer from NGA
August 30, 2005
Kathryn,

Don't cut them like that. The only growing point on that palm is the top (terminal bud) of the trunk. The foliage appears in the center. Removing that foliage is not good and won't prevent upward growth as new leaves are produced from the center. Perhaps if they are too tall you can find a grower or landscaper who would dig and remove them and replace them with smaller ones as the larger ones are worth more!

Needle palm is smaller and more clump forming. It is also more hardy.

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