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Palm trees

Palm tree pruning and cleaning in the Algarve

Palm tree pruning, cleaning and trimming at height for Canary Island date palms, Washingtonias and Phoenix palms. Silves, Lagoa, Portimão, Albufeira, Lagos and across the Algarve, with rope access and lifting platform. Free quotes.

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Palm tree pruning and cleaning in the Algarve

Clean, safe palms, protected from the weevil

The palm is the most photographed tree in the Algarve and also the most mistreated. Dead fronds dropping on cars, date clusters that draw rats and wasps, and bad cuts that open the door to the red palm weevil.

Palm cleaning means removing the dead fronds, the flower and fruit stalks and the old leaf bases, leaving a balanced crown. On a Canary Island date palm we finish with the pineapple cut, which protects the palm and gives it the classic Algarve look. We never strip green fronds beyond what is needed, because that weakens the palm and attracts pests.

Clean, safe palms, protected from the weevil

What is included

  • Canary Island date palms

    Phoenix canariensis with the pineapple cut, removal of dead fronds, spines and fruit stalks. The most common species and the one the weevil prefers.

  • Washingtonia trimming

    Washingtonia robusta and filifera, often over 15 metres. We remove the skirt of dead fronds that harbours rats and fire risk.

  • Date palms and other species

    Phoenix dactylifera, Chamaerops humilis, Trachycarpus, Syagrus and Butia.

  • Work at height

    We climb with rope and spikes or use a lifting platform, depending on the palm and the access. No damage to the trunk.

  • Dead palm tree removal

    Palms killed by the weevil must be felled and destroyed by law. We cut and dispose of them properly.

  • Palm transplanting

    We move palms with a mini digger, in the right season, and follow up on watering.

Before and after

Drag to compare before and after

  • Palm tree cleaning 1 (After)
    Palm tree cleaning 1 (Before)
  • Palm tree cleaning 2 (After)
    Palm tree cleaning 2 (Before)
  • Palm tree cleaning 3 (After)
    Palm tree cleaning 3 (Before)
  • Palm tree cleaning 4 (After)
    Palm tree cleaning 4 (Before)
  • Palm tree cleaning 5 (After)
    Palm tree cleaning 5 (Before)
  • Palm tree cleaning 6 (After)
    Palm tree cleaning 6 (Before)
  • Palm tree cleaning 7 (After)
    Palm tree cleaning 7 (Before)

When to call us

Your palm needs cleaning if:

  • There are many brown fronds hanging around the trunk
  • Fronds and fruit drop on cars, roofs or the pool
  • Dates on the ground, with rats or wasps around
  • It has not been cleaned for over a year
  • You are renting out or selling and want the garden presentable
  • The central fronds look bent or collapsed (call urgently: it may be weevil)

How the job runs

Four steps, with the price agreed before we start

  1. 01

    Assessment

    We check the species, height and any signs of pests. If weevil is present we propose treatment before or after the cut.

  2. 02

    Right season

    We schedule for autumn and winter where possible, when the weevil is least active.

  3. 03

    Cutting

    We climb and remove dead fronds, stalks and leaf bases. On Phoenix palms we shape the pineapple.

  4. 04

    Protection and clean-up

    We seal the cuts if advisable, chip the fronds and clear the site.

What affects the price

The price of cleaning a palm depends on:

  • Height and species (a tall Washingtonia or a broad Phoenix)
  • How many years since the last clean
  • Access for the platform, or whether we need to climb
  • Number of palms in the same garden or condominium
  • Whether weevil treatment is done on the same visit

For condominiums and resorts with many palms the price per palm drops considerably. Send photos and the number of palms and you will have a quote the same day.

Where we do this work

We clean palms along the whole western coast: Silves, Lagoa, Carvoeiro, Ferragudo, Portimão, Alvor, Praia da Rocha, Albufeira, Guia, Lagos and Loulé. We work for villa owners, condominiums and holiday lets.

  • Silves
  • Lagoa
  • Portimão
  • Albufeira
  • Lagos
  • Monchique
  • Loulé
  • Faro
  • Vila do Bispo
  • Aljezur
Areas

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Recent jobs

Common questions

Answers before you call

When should palm trees be pruned in the Algarve?
Autumn and winter, November to February. The red palm weevil flies less then and fresh cuts attract fewer females. Pruning a palm in high summer without protection is an invitation to the pest. If you need an urgent clean at another time, we seal the cuts with a protective product.
How often do palm trees need to be pruned?
Once a year is enough for most palms. Fast-growing Washingtonias or very windy gardens sometimes need two visits. Leaving it for several years makes the job more expensive and more dangerous.
What is the 9-to-3 rule for pruning palm trees?
Picture the crown as a clock face. Only remove fronds below the horizontal line from 9 to 3. Cutting higher, into the green fronds above that line, starves the palm and is the single most common mistake we see.
Can you cut the top off a palm tree?
No. A palm has one growing point at the centre of the crown. Cut it and the palm dies. It is only done on palms that are already dead, as part of removal.
How much does palm tree pruning cost?
It depends on height, species and condition. A small Phoenix cleaned every year costs little. A 15-metre Washingtonia that has never been cleaned is a different job. Send photos on WhatsApp and we give you a figure the same day.
Do you transplant palms?
Yes, ideally in spring. We lift the palm with its root ball using a mini digger and follow up on watering over the following weeks. Not all species take equally well; we tell you what to expect before we start.

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