Yep, palm. Any advice?

[JiKeidan]

Here recently I've taken quite a step down when it comes to the type of company that I work for in terms of age. Me and a guy here recently in the last year started a company together and being new to the Florida area I had never been in a palm tree. After about a year in now, I've come up with some varying techniques on how to get into palms both invasively and non-invasively, but obviously spurring trees is the easiest and safest option when it comes to a palm tree.

I was wondering if anyone out there has any advice on trimming palms in general, and how to speed up the operation. I have quite a few manual rigging tools at my disposal, but no fancy equipment like bucket trucks, cranes, etcetera.

The downside is that palm trimmings go for about $25 per tree as a result of the majority of companies utilizing bucket trucks in order to make it happen, and generally take an entire day or week doing a palm run.

Obviously there's not going to be anyway to manually climb these trees and turn a profit, it's pretty much just about showing face and maintaining our commitment. However, any advice at all may potentially make a huge difference for me. Appreciated

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[JontreeHI]

Florida sounds just like Hawaii.
Either schedule 60 palms in close proximity for a day, or let customers know that the market price is so low that they are better off going with the cheaper guy, but ' let's take a look at your ficus and live oak.'
I would charge 50 a coco palm, and 75-100 to do it spikeless. I passed on many 25 dollar trees (I also did many many as a sub for 20 per or a daily rate up to 30 trees say) but the palms I secured were for high end folks with other valuable trees on the property, and I made money on them.
Best advice, don't even try to compete with the 25 dollar per tree set. They can do more, and faster, cheaper. A race to the bottom.
But I'm only assuming from your post that it sounds like Hawaii and Florida Palm markets are quite similar. Good luck!
Edit spikeless not spineless

 

[quasijodo]

I'm on Hawai'i island, we climb palms (mostly coconuts) either with spikes or using bands (Swiss tree grippers) if we aren't using our nifty lift. The bands are a good option, but they run around $2500/set last I checked. I don't think we generally make much profit on palms unless it's a pretty big contract.

 

[JiKeidan]

$2500?!!!? Wtf

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[quasijodo]

We have 3 sets, thankfully I didn't pay for any of them. Slightly slower than spikes, but less fatiguing and better for the tree.

 

[NickfromWI]

Best advice, don't even try to compete with the 25 dollar per tree set. They can do more, and faster, cheaper. A race to the bottom.

This is gold right here.

We do quite a few palms. We never use spikes on them. If it's a queen palm that can be done from the ground or a ladder with a pole saw- that's $25-75. If we have to climb it's likely gonna be $200-300. If the client says their guy can do it for $75, I explain what damage can do to spikes ....like this fungus that started and is eating away at the trunk



And I explain that we have insurance to protect them, too. I let them pick- but I'm not gonna have our climbers spend that much time for a measly $75.

The biggest canary island date palm we did was $1600. They asked for a discount and I showed them the thorns and said "sorry- no can do" and they ended up hiring us anyway.

If you don't have a bucket, I don't think you can make money pruning parking lot palms for $25.


love
nick