Advice on palm trees

[carolinar]

I have two mature palm trees in the side between my house and the neighbor's house. We moved in 2 years ago so I don't know exactly what kind of palm trees they are, but the internet seems to indicate they are Mexican fan palms. They have lots of shaggy dead fronds on them and one of them is leaning slightly toward the house. I am wondering if the one that is leaning is going to fall on the house because it also seems to be smaller/indented at the base of the tree compared to the rest of the trunk, I'll attach a picture to show this (it was also being hemmed in by a piece of stone by the storm drain). The one that is leaning is only 7 feet from the house. Should we try to get one or both of them removed entirely or just trimmed? If we get them trimmed, will they keep getting taller and will we need to have them trimmed every year?

 

[Raintree]

It looks like a windmill palm, these fan palms are difficult to ID from pictures.
First prune off and clean up all the dead fronds, you're looking at a big fire hazard. Not to mention rodents and insects nesting in that thicket.
Palms are very sturdy, unlikely a threat to the house. Post pics after you expose the trunk, want to make sure there is no penclling.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Yes, they are in dire need of a pruning, and then reassess, but they wouldn't worry me at all, especially in Cali. I've seen them ride out a cat 4 like, well, like they were bred for it,lol.
Please don't let them carrot top them though, just any fronds below 90 degrees max. A lot of people like to carrot top them to maximize the duration between trimmings, but it can stress the palm out.
Properly trimmed, you should be able to go 2-3 years between prunings.

 

[carolinar]

Ok thank you so much! That definitely seems easier than having them removed.

What is penciling mentioned in the first response?

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I recommend gasoline, sprayed around the first few feet. The dry crap will take it from there.

I hate those things…

 

[ElevatorGuy]

I recommend gasoline, sprayed around the first few feet. The dry crap will take it from there.

I hate those things…

Do you see a bunch of them in Idaho? Lol

 

[davidprivett]

back in the day in Fla. landscapers would pay you to take them out so they could resell them to commercial land developers. My next door neighbor got 500.00 for two I think were royal palms in the 30 ft. range. I do not know if that is still done.

 

[Raintree]

Penciling is a palm condition in which the trunk suddenly becomes extremely narrow. This could cause an unnecessary breaking point.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Do you see a bunch of them in Idaho? Lol

add another reason to have moved here, lol