Palm Fronds Guide

Use our guide below to learn all about palm fronds and how to properly care for them.

What Are Palm Fronds?

Fronds are simply the leaves featured on palm trees. Palm fronds do stay green year-round, unlike the leaves of deciduous trees that drop off every fall.

Similar to deciduous trees, though, palm fronds perform photosynthesis, giving tree the food it needs for survival. Fronds will come in many shapes and sizes, with a typical lifespan of five-plus years.

How To Care For Palm Fronds

Typically, the fronds will not need any sort of specialized care. Instead, they will age naturally and become brown as time goes on. It’s suggested to only cut the frond when it is completely brown colored.

It’s always best to call the professionals whenever you believe your fronds are dead or dying. Refrain from moving any fronds before hurricane season. Doing so may result in more damage due to inclement weather.

What To Do If Palm Fronds Turn Brown

Fronds become brown as they age, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Some palm species are considered self-cleaning, which means they let fronds drop off naturally. Other palm species may require the dying fronds to be removed by hand.

Always use pruning shears or a clean sharp knife when you choose to cut these fronds. Contact a professional tree service if you have any safety concerns at all. Springtime is always the best time of year to perform any maintenance needs.

How To Properly Dispose Of Fronds

Fallen fronds can be quite large and take a long time to decompose. It’s suggested to run any fallen fronds through a chipper before letting them decompose.

This process can take a long time even with the use of a chipper. Again, call the professionals if you cannot do this is as a DIY task.