Tell me about palm trees in BR

My house came with a few in my backyard near my pool. They give decent shade at certain times of the day, but for me they're more beneficial as an aesthetic I enjoy. Something about floating on my back seeing palm trees as I look up. They also look nice with a light on them at night. Trimming them can be a pain in the arse. I used to use a ladder plus a pole saw to reach the palm fronds that needed to go. The last few times I paid someone.

Glad I have them, but they cost a little bit to maintain.

Sabal Palmettos won’t be any trouble other than cutting off the dead fronds. They’re more than cold-hardy enough; you’ll see them well into N Carolina. They’re native and grow anywhere with at least part sun. We had heavy clay and they were fine. Buy them as tall as you find, because they add height slowly.
Mexican Fan Palms look similar but aren’t nearly as hardy. In Charleston they’ll get all their fronds burned off every 3-4 years. They come right back, but they look like hell for a summer.
Pindos take more room. They’re shorter, thicker, have a bigger top, and a lot of fruit. They’re cold-hardy as well.

I’d rather have a sister in a whorehouse than another palm tree. They are the most labor intensive plant I’ve ever owned.

quote:

---

Best are Canary Island date palms.

---

talk about high maintenance...
you need a high lift lull to trim those things

I have 2 Mexican fan palms around my pool. I hate them. I cannot keep the fronds from staying dead and droopy at the tips. All new fronds come out looking the same. I wish I could give them away.

Queen & sabal/cabbage are probably the most common & affordable. Pindo are an option.

For baller status get mule palms with a diamond cut trunk.

Install is the same as any other tree.
Shade is mildly decent unless you do 1 sabal by itself. Plant sabals in a tight group of 3 if you have the space.
Maintenance is maintenance. Over pruning hurts more than under pruning. Don't take a frond off unless it's at least 50% dead. Once or twice a year should be enough unless you're in a tight space. Queens are sloppy in tight quarters but fine for a backyard corner or large property.

I'm assuming all 4 of mine around the pool are dead from the freeze. Things I'm gonna go with something else in their place