Palms in Brisbane gardens
Palm tree removal in Brisbane is common because palms grow so well here. Cocos palms, Alexander palms, Bangalow palms, golden canes and fan palms were planted in huge numbers around pools and courtyards from the 1970s onward. Many have now outgrown the spot, and some are species councils and environmental groups now treat as weeds.
Palms bring their own problems:
- Heavy fronds. A dead frond from a mature palm is heavy and comes down without warning, often in the first strong wind of storm season.
- Seed and fruit. Cocos palms drop masses of orange fruit that stain paving, attract flying foxes and spread seedlings through gardens and bushland.
- Pool mess. Fronds, flowers and seed end up in the skimmer box every week.
- Height. A palm that was a feature at two metres can be well above the roof line a couple of decades later.
Removing a palm
Palms are not cut like trees. Their trunks are fibrous rather than woody, they do not have branches to rig from, and they are top-heavy.
Sectional removal. For palms near houses and pools, a climber or an elevated platform removes the crown first, then the trunk is cut in short sections and lowered. This keeps every piece under control.
Lowering whole. In open spaces, a palm can be cut at the base and lowered or felled in one direction. It is quick, but it needs a clear landing zone longer than the palm is tall.
Crane removal. For tall palms in tight backyards, a crane can lift the palm out over the house in one or two pieces. It is the fastest method where access allows.
The stump and root ball
Palms do not have a tap root. They have a dense ball of fibrous roots near the trunk. A single-trunk palm cut low will not regrow, so the stump can simply be left, ground below the surface, or dug out. Clumping palms such as golden cane can shoot again from the base, so for those the whole clump often needs to go. See stump grinding and stump removal for how each works.
Palm cleaning instead of removal
If you like the palm and it is in a sensible spot, a clean-up may be all it needs. That means removing dead and hanging fronds, seed stalks, flower spathes and fruit before they fall. It is worth doing before storm season, especially for palms over pools, roofs, paths and parked cars.
Avoid having green, healthy fronds stripped off to make the palm look tidy. Over-pruning weakens the palm and leaves a thin, top-heavy crown more likely to snap in strong wind.
Cocos palms
The cocos palm, also called the queen palm, is the palm we are asked about most. Many south-east Queensland councils list it as an environmental weed because birds and flying foxes spread its fruit into bushland. It is not illegal to have one, but plenty of owners remove them rather than keep cleaning up after them. If you are replacing one, ask a local nursery about native alternatives that suit your conditions.
Near the bay
In bayside areas such as Wynnum and Victoria Point, palms are often planted as a salt-tolerant screen. Salt wind dries out the fronds, so dead fronds accumulate faster than inland, and the first storm of the season brings them down. A clean-up before spring is good practice there.
Price
Palm work is priced on height, number of palms, access, whether a crane or platform is needed and how the waste is carted. Bulky palm waste is often the hidden cost. Guide bands are on the prices page, and if other trees are coming out at the same time, have them quoted together with the tree removal.