Brisbane
Palm tree Removals
Maintaining & Removing Palms
We remove all palm species across Brisbane – from small Golden Canes to massive Cocos Palms. We also provide professional palm cleaning to keep your palms healthy and safe.
Book an appointmentSmart pruning now prevents emergency removals later.
Cocos palms dropping fronds in your yard again? We get it. Brisbane’s warm climate makes palms grow like crazy, but they become a real pain when they’re too big, too messy, or planted in the wrong spot. Most Brisbane properties have at least one palm that needs to go. Maybe it’s blocking your view, dropping seeds everywhere, or just too close to the pool. Some palms looked great 20 years ago but now they’re 15 meters tall and leaning toward your house.
Why Brisbane Homeowners Remove Palm Trees
They’re High Maintenance
Cocos Palms drop seeds constantly. You’re picking up those orange dates every single week. The mess attracts rats and cockroaches. Cuban Royal Palms shed their fronds without warning – heavy ones that damage roofs and cars.
Wrong Location
Palms planted near pools seemed like a good idea until the roots cracked the concrete. Or they’re blocking satellite dishes. Or scraping against second-story windows of Queenslanders in suburbs like Coorparoo and Norman Park.
Storm Damage Risk
Old Cocos Palms get top-heavy. Brisbane storms knock them over regularly. We removed dozens after the 2022 floods from properties in Rocklea, Oxley, and Graceville where the wet ground let them topple.
Attracting Pests
Palm seeds bring brush turkeys, possums, and fruit bats. The rotting fruit smells terrible in Brisbane’s heat. Properties near creeks in suburbs like Fig Tree Pocket and Kenmore Hills get extra wildlife problems.
End of Life
Palms don’t live forever. When they start dying from the top down, they become ugly and dangerous. Dead fronds hang on for months before falling.
Professional Palm Tree Cleaning Brisbane
Not every palm needs removal. Regular palm cleaning keeps them looking good and prevents problems before they start.
What Palm Cleaning Includes:
- We remove dead and dying fronds that hang down and look terrible. These brown fronds are also fire hazards during Brisbane’s dry winters. Getting them off improves appearance immediately.
Seed pods and fruit get removed before they drop and make a mess. For Cocos Palms, this means cutting off those orange date clusters while they’re still green. Saves you weeks of picking up rotting fruit.
Hazardous fronds that could fall get taken down safely. Old fronds on tall palms weigh 20-30kg. When they drop from 10 meters up, they damage whatever’s below – roofs, cars, people.
Palm Cleaning vs Palm Removal
Cleaning extends palm life and keeps them safe. It’s way cheaper than removal – usually $150-$450 depending on palm height and how much needs doing… But cleaning doesn’t fix fundamental problems. If your palm is too big, wrong location, or causing structural damage, removal makes more sense long-term. We’ll tell you honestly which option suits your situation.
Palm Removal Process
- Small Palms (under 4 meters). Cut fronds off first. Then cut trunk into manageable sections from top down. Load straight into truck. Jobs done in 1-2 hours for single palms
Palms remove differently than regular trees. No branches to cut. Just trunk sections and fronds.
Medium Palms (4-8 meters). Usually need a climber or elevated work platform. Section the trunk carefully. Each piece weighs 50-100kg. Need proper equipment to move them safely.
Large Palms (8+ meters). Crane work for most. Too dangerous to climb tall Cocos Palms – the fronds hide the trunk and you can’t see what you’re cutting. Crane lifts sections directly to truck. Done in half a day.
Tight Access Palms. Properties in Paddington, Red Hill, and New Farm often have palms near pools or between houses. We use smaller equipment, hand-carry sections, or crane over the house.
Palm Stump Removal. Palm stumps grind differently than tree stumps. The trunk is mostly fiber, not solid wood. Grinds faster but makes more mess. Most Brisbane properties want the stump ground out completely so they can plant grass or pavers. We grind palm stumps 300mm below ground level. This stops regrowth and gives you clean soil for whatever comes next.
How Often Do Palm Need Cleaning
- Cocos Palms need cleaning every 6-12 months. They grow fast and shed constantly. Properties in Bulimba, Hawthorne, and New Farm with street-facing palms usually clean them annually to keep them looking neat.
Palms remove differently than regular trees. No branches to cut. Just trunk sections and fronds.
Cuban Royal Palms need yearly cleaning minimum. The crown shaft builds up with dead material that eventually falls in chunks.
Alexandra Palms benefit from cleaning every 12-18 months. The red seed pods should come off before they drop and stain your driveway.
Golden Cane clumps need less frequent attention – usually every 1-2 years unless they’re in high-visibility areas.
Common Brisbane Palm Problems
Palm trees sure are nice to have around, but they all take a bit of maintenance to keep them thriving and looking good. Here is a quick overview of what to expect with each species
Cocos Palms (Queen Palms)
The most common problem palm in Brisbane. Grow 12-15 meters tall. Drop hundreds of orange dates that rot on paths and attract rats. The fronds are heavy – about 20kg each – and fall without warning. Most removal calls we get are for Cocos Palms in Indooroopilly, Tarragindi, and Holland Park.
Cuban Royal Palms
Tall, straight trunk but messy. The crown shaft sheds constantly. Gets huge – up to 20 meters. Common in older Brisbane suburbs but often outgrows the space.
Alexandra Palms
Multi-trunk clustering palm. Looks tropical but spreads wide. The red seeds stain concrete. Popular in the 80s and 90s but now considered too big for most Brisbane yards.
Palmetto Palms
Fan-shaped leaves that brown off and hang there forever. Sharp leaf stems cut you when trimming. Often planted as hedges but grow into trees.
Cost of Palm Services in Brisbane
As with all tree maintenance operations, pricing is determined by tree size, species, location, and work required.
Palm Removal
| Tree Size | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Small palms (2-4m) | $250-$500 |
| Medium palms (4-8m) | $500-$1,200 |
| Large palms (8-15m) | $1,200-$2,800 |
| Extra large (15m+) | $2,500-$4,500 |
Palm Cleaning
| Tree Size | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Small palms (2-4m) | $150-$280 |
| Medium palms (4-8m) | $250-$380 |
| Large palms (8-15m) | $350-$600 |
Stump grinding adds $150-$400 depending on size. Multiple palms get better rates. Difficult access costs more. Cocos Palms are usually mid-range pricing. Cuban Royals cost more because of height. Golden Cane clumps are cheaper because they’re shorter.
Best Time for Palm Work
Any time works in Brisbane. Palms don’t have a dormant season like other trees. We remove and clean them year-round.
Most people call us after:
- Storm damage in summer
- Cleaning up for property sales
- Renovations or pool installations
- Finally getting sick of the mess
Regular cleaning customers usually book annually, often timing it before Christmas when properties need to look their best.
After Palm Removal
Once the palm is gone, you’ve got options. Most Brisbane homeowners plant smaller native trees, put in a garden bed, or extend their lawn. Some install outdoor entertaining areas where palms used to dominate the yard.
The space opens up immediately. You’ll be surprised how much bigger your yard feels without a massive palm blocking everything.
Got problem palms? Did you know Shane’s Trees are one of the top teir providers of Palm cleaning and removal and tree removal Brisbane wide? We remove and clean all palm species across Brisbane. Free quotes, professional service, complete cleanup. Call us today and get those palms sorted.
Brisbane Palm Removal FAQ’s
Yes in many cases, Palms may be protected depending on size, zoning and location under Brisbane City Councils Natural Assets Local Law. You risk penalties for removing protected trees without a permit
Palm Tree Service Quotes
One of our friendly team members will get back to you before you can say ‘timber’!
Some factors that might affect your quote…
The size of your tree. Generally, the bigger it is, the longer it takes to remove – and the more space vegetation takes up in our trucks!
Ease of access. Trees around properties with steep embankments are often difficult to load onto vehicles.
Equipment needed. Certain projects require the use of barges, cranes and even helicopters which may be reflected in your quote.
