Caught a young guy saying climbing spikes are bad for palms and it got me thinking

I was at a supply house last week and overheard a younger arborist telling his buddy you should never use climbing spikes on a palm tree. He was dead serious about it. And I get where he's coming from, it's a rule for regular trees, but palms are different. Their trunks don't heal like a hardwood does, but they also don't get that ring damage the same way. I've climbed palms with spikes for 15 years and never had one die from it. The issue is more about the fronds and the crown, not the trunk wounds. This guy probably learned from a textbook or a quick YouTube video. Has anyone else noticed newer guys getting stuck on rules that don't fit every situation?

2 comments

2 Comments

parker_jones503d ago

Whoa, 15 years without a single palm dying from it?

casey8433d ago

Honestly that's impressive for sure. Makes me think of the time my buddy tried growing palms in Ohio and they all died within two winters. Guess some folks just have the magic touch with plants.