Most palms do best with one to two trimmings per year, ideally in late spring or early summer before the windy months – more often if the palm overhangs a roof, walkway, or pool, or produces heavy seed pods. Whether it is called palm tree trimming or palm tree pruning, the service is the same: selective removal of dead fronds, seed pods, and fruit clusters.

The rule that matters: only fronds that are fully brown or hanging below horizontal come off. Cutting green fronds – including so-called hurricane cutting before storm season – weakens the palm and does more harm than good; a healthy palm with a full canopy naturally flexes in the wind. If a contractor offers to trim below the green canopy for a lower price, walk away.