Palms around Midland
Palms were a popular feature of older gardens in Guildford, Midland and the Swan Valley, and many old homesteads still have tall date palms or Canary Island date palms near the house or along the drive. Newer suburbs added Washingtonia (fan) palms and cocos palms. All of them eventually cause the same complaints:
- Dead fronds that hang down, then fall heavily in wind, onto roofs, cars and people.
- Seed stalks and fruit that make a mess of paving and pools and attract rats and birds.
- Height that puts the crown up near power lines or makes it impossible to maintain without a climber.
- Leans after years of growing toward the light, sometimes over a roof.
- Spines on Canary Island date palm fronds that make handling dangerous.
Removal or a clean
A palm clean takes off all the dead and dying fronds, cuts out seed stalks and fruit, and tidies old frond bases. Done every year or two, it keeps a healthy palm looking good and stops most of the mess. It is the cheaper option if the palm is in the right place.
Full removal makes sense when the palm is too tall for the spot, is leaning, is too close to the house or pool, or is in the way of building work. Removal is usually done in sections from the top down, either by a climber or from an elevated work platform where there is access.
The awkward parts of palm work
Palms are not like other trees. The trunk is fibrous rather than woody, it does not chip cleanly, and it is surprisingly heavy. Fronds tangle in standard chippers, so they are often bundled and carted instead. Canary Island date palms have long sharp spines near the frond bases that can cause nasty injuries. All of this affects how the job is done and what it costs.
The stump or root ball is also different. Palms do not have the spreading woody root plate of a gum; instead, a dense mass of fine roots sits under the trunk. Many people leave it to break down, but if you want the area level for paving or lawn, it can be ground or dug out.
Where the palm sits
On heavier river soils in Guildford and Woodbridge, palms often grow very tall because their roots have plenty of water, and access can be soft in winter. On sandy Ellenbrook blocks, machines move more easily but sand around the root ball makes the hole collapse. Close to the pool or house, the quote should cover how the job is done without dropping fronds or trunk sections onto anything.
Cost and next steps
Palm removal pricing depends mostly on height, species, access and disposal. A clean is usually much less than a removal. See the tree removal cost guide for 2026 planning bands, and if you also have other trees to deal with, mention them so one visit covers everything. For tree trimming as well as palms, see tree lopping.