Cutting Back a Pindo Palm: When Should Pindo Palms Be Pruned and How Should They Be Careed for?

Butia capitata, commonly known as the pindo palm, is a thick, slowly growing palm tree that thrives in zones 8 through 11. It can withstand harsh winters. Due to their diverse range of sizes, shapes, and species, palm trees can sometimes be difficult to determine how much—if any—pruning is necessary for each individual tree. To find out more about when and how to prune a pindo palm tree, continue reading.

Should I Trim My Pindo Palm?

Are prunings necessary for pindo palms? Should you be fortunate enough to have a pindo palm in your yard, you may find yourself tempted to prune it. The palm does have a propensity to appear a little ragged as it grows. The tree will grow eight new leaves every year. In reality, the leaves are made up of a spiny stem that is 4 feet (1 m) long, and 10 inch (25 cm) long leaves that branch off of it in opposite directions.

The leaves on these branches are getting older and curling down toward the tree’s trunk. The older leaves will eventually turn brown, then yellow. Even though it might be tempting, you should wait to trim the leaves until they are fully dead before doing so, so proceed with caution.

Pindo Palm Pruning Instructions

A pindo palm should only have its leaves cut back if they are entirely brown. Even so, take care not to chop them down to the trunk’s level. The stubs of dead leaves are what give the trunk of a pindo palm its rough appearance. If you don’t leave a few inches (8 cm) of stem exposed, you run the risk of infecting the tree.

Cutting back a pindo palm tree is acceptable in certain situations, such as when the tree blossoms. If the flowers are left in place, they will be replaced by fruit, which is edible but frequently bothersome when it falls. To prevent fruit litter, you can trim off the faded flower stalks.