ServicesPalm Tree Pruning and Removal
Palm Tree Pruning and Removal in Eatonville
We trim only the fronds a palm no longer needs, clear seed stalks and loose boots, and take down palms that are dying or crowding your home. Before any saw starts, you get a written scope that lists each palm and what we will do to it.
Pruning That Keeps a Palm Healthy
A palm grows from a single bud at the top of the trunk. It cannot replace a damaged crown the way an oak replaces a limb, so every cut matters. The common hurricane cut, where everything but a few upright fronds is stripped away, starves the palm of the green fronds it draws potassium and sugar from and leaves a pencil-thin section of trunk as the palm regrows.
We prune to the 9-to-3 line: fronds hanging below horizontal come off, along with fruit and flower stalks, while the green canopy stays. On sabal, queen, Washingtonia and date palms that usually means one or two visits a year, timed after flowering so seed pods do not drop on your drive and patio.
When a palm is beyond saving, we remove it. Our quote says which palms we recommend pruning, which we recommend removing, and why, so you can decide palm by palm.
What the Work Covers
- Dead and drooping fronds
- We cut brown and hanging fronds close to the trunk without tearing the leaf base. Green fronds above the horizontal line stay on the palm.
- Seed pods and flower stalks
- Queen and sabal palms produce heavy fruit clusters that stain pavers and draw pests. Removing the stalks also sends the palm's energy back into foliage.
- Boot removal where it is safe
- Loose, dry boots on sabals and date palms are peeled or cut off. Boots still firmly attached are left in place, because forcing them off wounds the trunk.
- Sectional palm removal
- We take tall palms down in controlled sections, lowering the heavy crown first, so nothing swings into a roofline, fence or pool cage. The trunk is cut to grade or left at a height you choose.
- Haul-off and cleanup
- Fronds, pods and trunk rounds leave with us. We rake beds and blow off hard surfaces before we go. If you want the stump ground out, we can add stump grinding to the same estimate.
Signs a Palm Needs Attention
Fronds hanging below the horizon
Old fronds that droop against the trunk hold moisture, shelter rats and can drop without warning in summer storms.
Orange-spotted or frizzled older fronds
Yellow-orange speckling on the oldest fronds usually points to potassium deficiency. Cutting those fronds off makes it worse, so we will tell you to feed rather than prune.
A wilting or browning spear leaf
The newest center frond turning brown or pulling out easily can mean bud rot or lethal bronzing. A palm with a dead bud will not recover and should come down.
Shelf fungus at the base
A woody conk on the lower trunk is a sign of Ganoderma butt rot, which decays the trunk from inside. These palms can snap, so removal is the safe call.
Palms crowding the roof or lanai
Fronds scraping shingles or screen enclosures do slow, steady damage. Sometimes a trim fixes it. Sometimes the palm was planted too close to your home and removal is the honest answer.
How a Palm Job Runs
- 1
Walkthrough and written scope
We look at each palm, its species, crown health and what is underneath it. You get a written quote listing the work per palm, the cleanup and anything that could change the job, before we schedule.
- 2
Setup and protection
We mark a drop zone, move patio furniture and lay down protection over beds or pavers where trunk sections will land.
- 3
Pruning without spikes
On palms we are keeping, we work from ladders or a lift and never use climbing spikes, which punch holes in the trunk that never heal. Blades are cleaned between palms to avoid spreading Fusarium wilt, which hits queen and Canary Island date palms.
- 4
Cleanup and a final look
Debris is hauled off, surfaces are cleared, and we walk the yard with you to confirm every line item is done.
What Moves the Price
Palm work is priced by the palm and by the conditions around it. Your quote spells out each line before we start, and nothing gets added on the day without your OK. For bigger projects, we offer financing up to $100,000, with terms from 2 to 12 years and no penalty for paying it off early.
- Height and species
- A 15-foot sabal is a ladder job. A 40-foot Washingtonia needs a lift and more time to lower fronds and pods safely.
- Access and what is below
- Palms over a pool cage, roof, power line or tight side yard take more rigging and slower work than one in open lawn.
- Number of palms
- Several palms trimmed in one visit share setup and hauling, so the cost per palm usually drops.
- Removal and stump options
- Taking a palm down, cutting the trunk to grade and grinding the stump are priced as separate lines so you can choose what you need.
Palm Pruning Questions
Something not covered here? (407) 537-4177
How often should my palms be trimmed?
Most palms here do well with one or two prunings a year. Queen palms drop fronds and fruit faster and may need two. Pruning more often than that removes fronds the palm is still using.
Will a palm stump grow back after removal?
No. A palm has one growing point at the top, so once the trunk is cut the stump is dead. It will soften and rot over a few years, or we can grind it out if you plan to replant or lay sod there.
What if the palm leans over my roof or pool cage?
We are fully insured, and we plan those jobs so coverage never has to come into it. Crowns are rigged and lowered in sections so heavy material does not fall onto structures in the first place.
Is it better to trim before hurricane season?
Removing dead fronds, pods and loose boots before June helps, because that is the material that flies in high wind. Stripping green fronds does not make a palm safer. A full canopy flexes and protects the bud.
Do you also handle other trees on the property?
Yes. Oaks, maples and other broadleaf trees are covered under our tree trimming and removal service, and we can price both together after the same walkthrough.
Get Your Palms Looked At
We are a family-owned company, in business since 2018, working in Eatonville, Maitland, Winter Park and nearby towns. One phone call sets up a free walkthrough and a written price for each palm.