Arbtalk.co.uk | Discussion Forum for Arborists

Good afternoon all.

Has anyone (and I'm directing this q. to the Kiwis, Aussies and American members primarily, though I know Palms are available in the UK) come up with the best way to take down Phoenix canariensis?

Here in Portugal we are taking down about 5-6 a month, due to them being killed by the Red Plam Weevil, and it seems we're develpoing a new strtegy every time!!

As anyone who's worked with the buggers before will know, they are damn heavy and kind of fibreous mening they don't behave like normal timber. The saw cut actually closes up behind the saw! (Something I found out very early after starting work here 3 year's ago when my trusty 361 ran out of juice at about lunchtime, I left it in the trunk and came back to find it impossible to move and had to cut it out!) You can only take thin biscuits off due to the weight when dismantling.

We have found that cutting the trunk 'lengthwise' first eases the 'trapping-of-the-saw' issue, but this is only practical after it's down to about 3 metres.

I'm using a combination of 460, 361 and 880, all with standard bar and chain set-ups with the 88 having a 75cm bar (the 105cm bar, although long enough to deal with the girth of the Palms, we found was draining too much power from the saw)

Another word of warning to all who deal with these things - Palm sap eats alloy side casings on saws! So make sure you clean it thoroughly after use.

Any Palm-tech advice gratefully received.

neverhad a problme wit them myself.

spike up them taking the skirt off on way up ( watching it doesn't close on you ) mind you they are dirty trees and i often found rats in them.

Chunk on way down as you do woth conifers.

pretty straight forward to bomb down ..pain in as the rig.

Yeah, I know what you mean, and that's true for Washingtonias and Chusan Palms.

I'm talking about Canary Island Palms (the ones that look like giant pineapples!)

Incidentally, in the Sherril's catalogue they've got a lovely system for avoiding having to ascend through the underside of the dirty, filthy, rat and snake infested dead fronds of Washingtonias. It involves firing a line like Amsteel over the top of the crown, pulling your climbing line to the top of the tree with it; secure the Amsteel at the base on 'the other side' of the trunk, then you can ascend over the fronds rather than under them. You can then clean the dead fronds off from the top. Simples.

Ski goggles are a useful tool. I was stabbed by a frond after it slid down the pruning pole in Melborne went in the fleshy bit of my hand above the thumb and came out an inch further on - owch! They are nasty, i'd recommend dynamite , but personally I've never tried it lol!

Good idea, hadn't though of ski goggles. Gonna get me a set.

You're right about the spikes on Phoenix spp. Got myself stabbed yesterday in the forearm, damn thing swelled up within minutes! The spikes from dead fronds are even worse.

Wouldn't mind taking dynamite to all Phoenix canariensis! But people seem to like 'em.

lol worst things ever,ive only taken one down only 10ft tall so just used a ladder and cut all the fronds off,the trunk is the worst bit cos it always jams the saw.

Yea mate, cut lengthways as much as poss. I tend to try and chip the whole lot aswell (pain to get rid of). Hi-ab makes life easy, tie into the hook then start from the top and work your way round and down getting rid of the fronds. It saves them falling down on top of you, still have to watch out for the spikes. You still have to cut across to lift out the big trunk, but only a couple of cuts rather than a whole heap of rings. Once its on the ground its not to bad to cut lengthwys and feed into the chipper, have to cross cut some of the lengths, but once all the tension is out of them its not to bad. Still heavy as s**t good to have a few guys. Also to prune them, throwline right over the top then send a rope up with a pulley on it and your climbing system in the pulley. Tie the rope off to the bottom of the palm or another tree. It gives you a bit of an anchor point. Still need spikes and lanyard to get really close to shave those bowls niceley though. Hope that helps.

12"+ chipper is prefearable to

fully agree with all above, also when blocking down the trunks, best to bore into it, rather than cut in from the sides, makes life much easier, and stops the fibres closing on the saw as much.

did a 16 month stint in Perth western aus, some big dirty old canary island date palms there! had a 2 week palm tidying contract at Perth zoo, man! the critters that we found in those palms attracted by all the animal feed! long sleeves, gloves, elastic bands on your wrists and ankles and a scuba set if you can too!!

got spiked good too, the toxins in those palm tips will freeze muscles, had a trip to A&E too with a 4 inch splinter! mmmm nice.

good luck mate.
J

got spiked good too, the toxins in those palm tips will freeze muscles, had a trip to A&E too with a 4 inch splinter! mmmm nice.

i once got told that but i just thought it was bll sht, but guess not,