Two slightly different kinds of palms, actually. Arcade has the only native palm - Washington Filifera (found in desert canyons near Palm Springs)---thicker-trunked, slower growing than the Longstreets, which are the more common Washingtonia Robustas, from Sonora and southern Baja.
Both naturally keep their skirts as youngsters, but the Robustas (Longstreets) more readily "self-cleanse" as they age. Santa Ana winds help.
As to pruning I don't think they care much one way or the other - to the living part of the palm tree, its brown, dead fronds are what Fredo is to Michael....LOL LOL.....the only exception being the skirts may help shade the trunks of the Filiferas in the intense desert sun.......though pruned Filiferas in the Coachella Valley seem to do just fine even with their horticultural version of a Brazilian Wax
Quote:
Originally Posted by tovangar2
Thx BRR. This is early. The palm doesn't seem to have its bit of fence yet or its sign. I rather liked the way palms used to be maintained, common through the 50's at least, with their "dirty petticoats" showing. It's supposed to be better for the trees.
I imagine they're letting the wind maintain the Longsteet Palms:

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