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Palm Tree Trimming
Palms are everywhere in Palm Beach County: coconut, royal, queen, Christmas and sabal (cabbage) palms, which is Florida's state tree. They're trimmed differently from shade trees, and a lot of palm 'trimming' you see around town actually hurts the palm.
Remove only what's dead or dying
UF/IFAS Extension recommends removing only dead or yellowing fronds and leaving the green fronds. Palms use those older green fronds for nutrients, especially potassium. Cutting a palm down to a few fronds pointing straight up, a 'hurricane cut', weakens it and doesn't make it more storm-safe.
Coconuts and seed pods
Coconut clusters and heavy seed stalks are a real hazard over driveways, patios and pools, and they can become projectiles in high wind. Removing them is a reasonable safety trim, and many owners have coconut palms cleaned once or twice a year.
No spikes on palms
UF/IFAS says climbing spikes should never be used to prune palms, because the wounds never heal. Ask how the crew will reach the crown, for example with a lift or ladder, before you hire them.
Watch for disease
Florida palms can get serious diseases, such as lethal bronzing and Thielaviopsis trunk rot. UF/IFAS warns that ripping off fronds that don't pull away easily leaves wounds that let trunk rot in. If a palm's canopy is declining fast or the spear leaf has collapsed, ask an arborist to look at it.
Palm Tree Trimming by city
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Sources
Rules change. Always confirm with your city or the county before removing a tree. Last reviewed 2026-10-18.