How to Skin a Palm Tree the Correct Way

Today we learn how to skin a Palm Tree, Enjoy!

[@DavidRitko]

Thanks for taking the time to describe what your doing, and why. Much appreciated!

[@BinoH]

My pleasure!

[@imserlick]

Thankyou for sharing this! We moved 7 years ago to FL. Have several palm trees and always wondered how this was done!

[@BinoH]

You are so welcome!

[@sf3102]

Great advice, Bino. Thank you for the tips and tricks! I picked up a few from this video and they will definitely help with the pruning of my queen palms.

[@BinoH]

Great to hear!

[@theatermusic87]

Looking forward to seeing other videos on proper pruning technique and tree biology! Definitely a weak area of mine

[@BinoH]

Thank you, I will keep it in mind.

[@kylefurderer1740]

Steve - This exactly what I have been looking for to verify how to "properly" trim/clean a palm tree! Thanks for the details and naming of the different parts of the tree to better help explain to customers.

[@BinoH]

Very welcome, Glad to Hear!

[@PuluCeeBagumba]

I actually use a cordless sawzall with a torch blade and make very shallow cuts along the bottom of the husk. The cuts are small enough to not leave a scar.

[@BinoH]

Nice tip! thank you!

[@PuluCeeBagumba]

Thanks! I have 21 queen palms on my property so I’m always looking for the most efficient ways to work on them. I’ve also attached a cordless sawzall with a 10’ super sharp wood blade to a retractable pole with a wire to pull the trigger for trimming fronds. 😀👍

[@SuperOhdannyboy]

Ok you guys must be using smaller saws all I think I would tire quickly holding up a Milwaukee at the end of a 10 foot pole. Great tip though.

[@PuluCeeBagumba]

@@SuperOhdannyboy you get used to it. I finally had to pull out my 20’ extension ladder last week and trim down 6 queens. When I’m on the ladder all I need is the cordless with a nasty sharp blade without the pole. 👍

[@goodworthss0073]

You never use saws to prune a palm tree you just pull what’s ready to come off

[@stevebrough304]

Thanks for the proper techniques and terminology Bino. I recently heard that you should use rubbing alcohol to sanitize any blades before starting the cutting on palms to prevent the spread of disease from a previous location site.

[@BinoH]

Yes to disinfect is a good idea. The Canary Island Date Palm can get Fusarium and that can kill them. They some of the more expensive palms. You're welcome and take care!

[@mvblitzyo]

wow Bino what an excellent video , i have done many different types of palm trees. glad that you mention for clients do not like gaff marks, it is tough not to gaff a large date palm. some times there so round even SRS is really challenging but we are tree people its what we do take care of trees Joe

[@BinoH]

Many many thanks! Take care Joe!

[@rainjersforest768]

this video is more interesting than useful to me, due to the lack of palms in my region but you never know with all that global warming . . . Great work!

[@BinoH]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jadealone]

Is anyone else seeing what I'm seeing in Vegas? Last summer lots were trimmed @ the top down to one prawn/branch & now the trees look to be skinned @ the bottom & top of trunks but in between all the old cut off sticking out & many are bending now about half way up. They look like crap

[@confuseatronica]

thanks that was exactly what I was trying to find out

[@BinoH]

You're welcome!

[@robertstewart2518]

I put tarps around the base and it speeds up cleanup immensely.

[@SuperOhdannyboy]

Pro tip for all small tree pruning.

[@michaeltartaglini5535]

A carpet knife works well in skinning the husks off. The hook on the blade helps to reach around the truck of the palms without having to gaff around the palm.

[@BinoH]

Thanks for sharing!

[@frankfasulo9107]

I got to the green part of the trunk close to the bottom when I ripped off the bark. Now that I saw this video I know how to do it more carefully. Thank you

[@BinoH]

You're welcome!

[@MiguelC.Herrera]

Saludos C. Bino desearía que mostrará como podar una palmera mexicana.Gracias

[@BinoH]

Hi, Thank you I will keep it in mind. Take Care!

[@ericwillman5291]

Where are you located Bino? Thanks for the video!

[@BinoH]

Southern California. You're welcome!

[@Bsquez0129]

Very cool Bino 😎 one thing we’ve done for the sake of saving on time since we’ll take on quite a few per job(mostly sable palmettos) is take a chainsaw up the neck instead of your razor method. Is there any reason we should reconsider this technique? It leave the palms pretty nice but I’m not sure whether there’s a layer we could be damaging as a consequence. Thanks for your knowledge! God bless

[@BinoH]

The most important thing is not to nick the trunk because you create an open wound that does not compartmentalize. If you are just trimming it's not as much of a worry it's more when your removing the bases. Some palm will get fungus or disease and it's important to disinfect your tools. If your working on a palm species that can be infected it's best not to use a chainsaw.

[@jtz100607]

This is asmr af

[@angeliasparrow3990]

Thank you for sharing.

[@BinoH]

My pleasure!

[@frank-gf5vh]

Good point, dates and queens are often over pruned.

[@BinoH]

It's horrible to seen when they look like tooth picks.

[@odkdsjf]

Bino, what tool can I use to remove the outer layer/skin of palm trees that were painted from the bottom to about 6 or 7 ft high?

[@BinoH]

A razor knife should work.

[@marcuswagstaff8395]

Thanks Bino - very helpful!!

[@BinoH]

Glad it was helpful!

[@araucariasightings3247]

Nice work. Do you by any chance know how to treat a palm for the palm weevil. The phoenix canariensis here in Southern California are being totally wiped out in the past few years and it is awful. No one is doing anything about it and I would love to be able to save some if I can. Thank you.

[@BinoH]

They haven't hit my city yet. I'm not sure but I'll ask around.

[@araucariasightings3247]

@@BinoH Thanks Bino. I have done some research and it sounds like the best is to spray the crown and drench the base with imidacloprid. This is so depressing watching this. I must have seen at least 15 or more dead canaries. just driving around the neighborhood today. The weevil also hits the Bismarck and chilean wine palm but not anything as much. My grandfather has a huge Chilean wine palm and a bunch of rare stuff so now I got to be on alert but the problem is when you see the damage it usually is too late. I heard the weevil is in Orange County but am not sure. I really miss seeing the beautiful canaries all over San Diego. If you do see one you know it is a matter of months and it's over. The weevil knows exactly where to go and is ruthless.

[@gregjohnson2073]

@@araucariasightings3247 what are the signs of the weevil?

[@araucariasightings3247]

@@gregjohnson2073 The emerging fronds will be starting to shift to the side or will open up more in the middle before they collapse. A lot of the time you will notice that one side of the emerging fronds is starting to fall to the side leaving a large opening in between the fronds before it collapses. It's real easy to tell and they all are getting it in San Diego. If you live where the weevil is it is best to get it treated before you see damage. Once you see the damage it most likely is too late. I have talked to a lot of people to warn them and usually they wait to see the damage and by then it is already too late and the tree doesn't recover. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask. I have been watching this for a few years now and am very familiar with it.

[@guyinatree]

Bino thank you for your videos, I am learning to climb and your videos have been so informative thank you for what you do.

[@BinoH]

You're welcome, take care!

[@adalbertomalagon8066]

Does bottle necking only happen to this type of palm or can it affects others like coconuts?

[@BinoH]

Yes it can happen to other types of palms. If you take too much of the leaf bases off.

[@erha6543]

Early in the video, he said to stay clear of 3' from the top. Then during the video he showed he was pulling the material in the 3' area. Which is it?

[@BinoH]

Yes I did say at 3' and where I stopped cutting is near 4' from the terminal bud. The part where I mention if you notice the petiole is really green you may have gone too far. If you get to the green they are a lot harder to remove.

[@erha6543]

@@BinoH We don't have the type of palms that you are working with. The Sego Palms pretty much are too small to even bother with. But we have a different type and thought it would be easier to maintain with a weed-eater, keep the bug population down, and have it look more aesthetically pleasing. But thank you for the quick response and the video.

[@GenovevaNinova]

Thank you

[@BinoH]

You're welcome!

[@SaxonPirates]

thanks! 👊

[@BinoH]

Welcome!

[@jimgraham4355]

can you skin all palms? what about Mule palms

[@BinoH]

Sorry I didn't answer quickly but I'm not familiar with Mule Palm so I asked a friend of mine who is an expert. He explained to me that he would avoid skinning the trunk. Instead cut the leaf bases off neatly and as close to the trunk as possible. Hope this helps. Take care!

[@jimgraham4355]

@@BinoH its a cross between a pindo palm and a queens

[@Soldierdiaz21]

Where can I find your source information to Lane more about that palm care

[@BinoH]

There is a section on palm trees in the Book Arboriculture. Also the ISA tree climber guide has a small section. You should look into publication on palms by Donald Hodel.

[@goodworthss0073]

I see so many people using saws that’s a big no no. You just pull down stems like you see here what’s ready to come off will come off on it own

[@BinoH]

Thanks!

[@Anthony-F]

What is the long tool called that you’re using? Can you link where to order one?

[@BinoH]

Pole saw, Pole pruner and extensions. Search an Arborist supply company near you.

[@victoraguirremuramoto8158]

Harbor Freight sells them for 20 dollars. They are called tree pruners.

[@supernova20121]

How small is too small to start skinning a filibusta?

[@BinoH]

I would do it when you have an idea what the thickness of the mature trunk will be.

[@arthurrivera3704]

Yo, what’s the tool name? Pull saw isn’t the one I’m looking up. Plz help

[@BinoH]

Pole saw.

[@uncletfishin248]

Good job. Stay safe.

[@BinoH]

Thank you! Take care!

[@garyenriquez379]

where did you buy your saw? Thanks

[@BinoH]

If you are asking where I bought the Pole saw. I bought it at bishco.com/ You can look them up on line. I have a Marvin saw head and a fanno tri cut blade.

[@1luxuryliner440]

Carpet blades are sharper use carpet square blade

[@BinoH]

Thanks for the tip I'll look into them.

[@1luxuryliner440]

I use carpet knife and carpet blade

[@BinoH]

I haven't those.

[@z98133]

How does the tree survive w/o the intervention of man?

[@Anne--Marie]

It becomes a beautiful bearded palm.

[@commishkcaa967]

Bino, Where are you located? Are you for hire?.

[@BinoH]

I'm in So Cal. No I am a full time City Arborist.

[@michaeltartaglini5535]

I am sorry, but the correct name for palms is palm grass as you will not find palms in any tree book. 😊!

[@BinoH]

I know glorified grass, but they are commonly referred to as Palm Tree.