Cold Damage to Trees Jan., 2021

 I just learned that Palms can fail two years after a hard, windy freeze. The North side of the trunk has most likely been damaged by the freeze resulting in the loss of structural integrity. Trunk failure with a healthy looking palm can occur up to 2 years later as the palm grows and adds weight to the damaged trunk. The top of the healthy palm is heavy when it's full and green and the damaged trunk will not be able to the support the healthy looking top or fronds.

Palms grow from the top so each year's growth adds height and weight. 

Test the trunk each year to monitor the integrity of the January, 2021 portion the the palm trunk. Strap something onto the palm trunk real close to the top or just under the fronds. It doesn't matter if the fronds are brown or green. This will keep track of the year the great freeze happened on the palm. Palms are not trees so to constrict the trunk will not hurt it. Don't squeeze the life out of it, of course, but get it tight enough to hold.

Please make sure your palm is far enough away from targets under it that if the top fell it wouldn't hurt anything. The skinny portion of a palm trunk indicates a bad or hard year it had. Keep a close watch on the thinner portions on a palm trunk. 

I'm not attempting to sell palm removals at all. I just want you to know the risks that MAY be present if your palm is real tall over pools and areas where people will be present. Be aware, Be alert and Be safe. You can leaf your tree concerns to me...

Thank You, 
 Sent from Curtis Hopper
aPerfectTree.com Totally Trees..., LLC.        214-288-0783
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