Palm Tree Trimming Boca Raton: What We’ve Learned Trimming Thousands of Palms

Tree Maid’s Palm Tree Trimming Boca Raton, FL Guide

By the Tree Maid Team | Tree Service Boca Raton & Palm Beach County | www.treemaid.com

Let us tell you something we see every single week on the job: a Boca Raton homeowner or property manager who waited too long to deal with their palms. We pull up, and what should have been a $250 trim has turned into a $12,000 emergency removal because a palm weevil got in, or a neglected frond cracked and took out a section of the roofline during a storm.

We’re going to be upfront with you: there are a lot of tree companies working in Boca Raton right now. Big franchises with call centers in other states. Storm chasers who show up after hurricanes and vanish. Guys offering $79 palm trims out of an unmarked pickup.

We’re none of those. We’re Tree Maid — based in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, we service Palm Beach County, including clients in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and communities across South Florida. The guys on our crew grew up here in Florida. We know these streets, these palms, these properties. And over the years, we’ve watched what smart tree care does for a property versus what neglect costs, and we understand professional tree care.

This guide is what we’d tell a friend who called us asking about their palms. No upsells. No scare tactics. Just what we actually know from being on the ground here.

Why Palm Tree Trimming Boca Raton Is Different From Anywhere Else

We’ve worked across South Florida, and Boca Raton has a specific combination of factors that makes palm care here genuinely different from, say, trimming palms in central Florida or up in the Panhandle.

First, the density. Properties in Boca — whether you’re in Broken Sound, Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, Boca West, or a neighborhood off Glades Road — tend to have more mature palms per acre than almost anywhere else in the county. These are decades-old trees that were planted when communities were built in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. They’re now 30, 40, 50 feet tall and have been trimmed dozens of times by dozens of different crews. The cumulative effect of all those previous trims — good and bad — is part of what we’re assessing every time we show up.

Second, the proximity to the coast. If you’re east of I-95, your palms are dealing with salt air year-round. That changes how the soil behaves, how pests spread, and how quickly nutritional deficiencies show up. A Queen Palm five blocks from the ocean needs a different maintenance approach than the same species in west Boca.

Third — and this is the one most companies don’t talk about — Palm Beach County has actual tree trimming codes that govern how palms can be cut. Over-pruning a palm in Palm Beach County is a code violation. We’ve seen other crews leave jobs that would technically qualify as violations under Section 705 of the county’s landscape code. That’s not a bill you want landing on your property.

📌  Palm Beach County Tree Trimming Code — What You Need to Know

• You cannot remove more than one-third of the fronds or branches on a tree in a single palm trimming
• For palms, you cannot prune above the “horizon line” (9 o’clock and 3 o’clock position) unless the fronds are dead or diseased
• Tree topping is illegal in Palm Beach County
• Violations result in fines and may require replacement of the tree at your expense
• Commercial properties require a permit for tree removal; single-family residential generally does not for standard trimming

Every cut our crew makes is within county guidelines. We don’t just trim — we trim correctly.

The 5 Things We Find Most Often on Boca Raton Properties

After servicing hundreds of properties in the Boca area, these are the five problems we run into constantly — usually after a cheaper crew or a DIY attempt has already been made at the tree:

1. The “Hurricane Cut” — The Most Expensive Mistake in Palm Care

This is when someone strips a palm down to almost nothing — just a small cluster of fronds at the very top — thinking it looks clean or storm-ready. It’s actually the opposite of storm-ready. A severely over-trimmed palm loses its structural stability, stresses the trunk, and becomes a prime target for palm weevils and other pests. We see this all over Boca Raton, especially after storm season, when fly-by-night crews come through and hack everything down.

The fix: Correct nutritional feeding, stopping all over-trimming, and letting the canopy recover over 18–24 months. We can tell you exactly where your palm stands. Learn more about professional palm trimming and pruning.

2. Dead Fronds That Have Been There Too Long

A dead frond hanging on a 40-foot Royal Palm doesn’t just look bad — it can weigh 50–80 lbs when waterlogged. It’s a pest breeding ground. And in a wind event, it becomes a projectile. The rule of thumb we use: if a frond has been brown for more than 60–90 days and isn’t naturally dropping, it needs to come off.

3. Seed Pods Left to Mature

Queen Palms and Coconut Palms are the worst for this in Boca. Letting seed pods fully mature drains enormous energy from the tree. We trimmed a property off Palmetto Park Road last season, where the homeowner had let their Queen Palms fruit unchecked for two years. By the time we got there, the canopies were noticeably thinner, and the fronds’ color was off. Seed stalk removal costs you maybe $200–300. Rehabilitation of a stressed palm — if you catch it in time — runs $600–1,200. A replacement runs $3,000–8,000+.

4. Climbing Spike Damage on Palm Trunks

You should never use climbing spikes on a palm. Full stop. Palms don’t compartmentalize damage the way hardwood trees do — every spike hole is a permanent wound and a potential entry point for Ganoderma and other fungal diseases. We see spike-marked palms constantly in Boca’s older neighborhoods. If a crew shows up with climbing spikes for your palms, send them away. We use aerial equipment and proper rope systems only.

5. Nutritional Deficiency Misdiagnosed as a Trimming Problem

Yellowing fronds on a Boca Raton palm are not always a pruning issue — they’re often a soil issue. South Florida’s sandy soil is chronically low in magnesium, manganese, and potassium. A palm showing off-color growth, yellowing at the base of new fronds, or frizzled-looking new leaves needs fertilization and treatment, not aggressive trimming. We assess every tree we work on. If trimming isn’t the answer, we’ll tell you that rather than take your money for a service that won’t solve the problem.

The Real Math: What Palm Tree Trimming in Boca Raton Costs vs. What Ignoring It Costs

We’re not in the business of fear. But we are in the business of honesty, so here’s the actual breakdown we’ve seen play out on Boca properties — sometimes in a single HOA — over the past few years:

Situation	Typical Cost	Notes
Single palm trim (under 25 ft)	$150 – $250	Straightforward access, standard species
Single tall palm trim (25–50 ft)	$250 – $450	Aerial equipment required
Multi-palm property program	$600 – $2,000/yr	Per-tree cost drops significantly
Pest treatment — early stage	$200 – $500	Weevil or scale, caught early
Advanced pest damage treatment	$800 – $2,000	If caught in year 2
Emergency removal — dead/diseased	$1,500 – $5,000	Includes safety rigging, hauling
Mature Royal Palm replacement	$8,000 – $15,000	Tree + delivery + installation + restoration
Mature Date Palm replacement	$15,000 – $25,000+	Rare specimens near ocean
Ganoderma (butt rot) — no cure	$2,500 – $6,000 removal	Tree is unsalvageable once confirmed

We pulled up to an HOA in West Boca two springs ago, where the board had been using the cheapest bidder for three years. Two Royal Palms had active Ganoderma butt rot — a fungal disease that eats the inner trunk. There’s no treatment. Both trees came out. Installed replacements? Just under $28,000. Three years of proper maintenance for those two trees would have been under $1,800 total.

We’re not telling that palm tree trimming Boca Raton story to scare anyone. We’re telling it because it’s true and because the HOA board chairman asked us to tell it so other communities don’t make the same call.

Palm Tree Trimming Boca Raton: Palm Trimming Schedule — By Species

How often do my palms actually need to be trimmed? The answer depends heavily on the species, and there are many species in Boca. Here’s what we recommend based on years of working these exact neighborhoods:

Palm Species	Frequency	Key Concern
Royal Palm	Every 12–18 months	Pest entry windows during vulnerable periods
Coconut Palm	Every 12–18 months	Frond weight, seed pod drop near structures
Queen Palm	Every 6–9 months	Fast grower — seed pods need constant management
Medjool Date Palm	Every 8–12 months	Frond boot management + fruit production
Foxtail Palm	Every 12 months	Delicate canopy — light touch required
Sabal/Cabbage Palm	As needed	Self-cleaning — remove dead fronds only, never spike
Montgomery Palm	Every 12 months	Seed pods over hardscapes need monitoring
Bismarck Palm	Every 18–24 months	Slow grower — minimal trimming needed

“As needed” doesn’t mean never. It means we assess on a schedule and trim when conditions warrant it, not on an arbitrary calendar. That’s actually how all quality palm care works — you assess first, then you decide.

Hurricane Season and Your Palms: What We Do — and When

For palm tree trimming Boca Raton, we run our trucks hard in April and May every year. That’s pre-storm season trimming, and it’s the most important service window of the year for Boca Raton property owners.

Here’s the practical reality: a properly trimmed palm canopy has dramatically less wind resistance than an overgrown one. You’ve probably seen photos of palm trees bent nearly horizontal in a hurricane and still standing — that’s because a healthy, maintained palm has the right frond density to flex without snapping. An over-crowded, under-maintained palm with heavy dead fronds and seed clusters is a completely different story.

What we do before hurricane season:

• Assess each tree for frond density, dead material, seed pods, and structural integrity
• Remove all dead and dying fronds — these are the primary projectile risk in high winds
• Cut back seed stalks and pods before they add weight and wind-catch surface
• Flag any trees with structural concerns — leaning palms, root plate issues, crown instability — for removal or monitoring
• Document the condition of each tree in case of an insurance claim after a storm

After a storm, we coordinate cleanup across our service area. If you’ve had damage — fronds down, palms leaning, trees on structures — call us early. We prioritize existing customers and Boca Raton properties. The longer storm-damaged palms sit, the more pest pressure builds.

How to Spot a Bad Tree Company Before You Hire One in Boca Raton

We’ll say something a lot of companies won’t: there are a lot of unlicensed, uninsured operations working in Boca Raton right now, and some of them look totally legitimate at a glance. Here’s what to check before you hand over your property:

What to Ask / Look For	Why It Matters
“Are you licensed to operate in Florida?”	Florida requires a tree trimming license for commercial work. No license = no accountability.
“Can you show proof of liability insurance?”	If they damage your roof, car, or neighbor’s property without insurance, you eat the cost.
“Do you have workers’ comp?”	If a worker gets hurt on your property and there’s no workers’ comp, you can be liable.
Climbing spikes in their gear?	Immediate red flag for palm work. Walk away.
They quote by phone without seeing the trees?	No legitimate arborist prices blind. Blind quotes are almost always bait-and-switch.
They want full cash payment upfront?	A down payment is normal. 100% upfront is not. Non-negotiable is a warning sign.
No physical address or local presence?	Storm chasers and out-of-county crews often have no accountability after they leave.

Tree Maid is fully licensed and insured. We carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation. We’ll give you proof before we start any job — you shouldn’t have to ask twice.

Boca Raton Neighborhoods We Know Well

If you are looking for a reliable tree service for palm tree trimming Boca Raton that is near you, we work throughout Boca Raton — east and west. Some areas have specific conditions worth knowing about:

• East Boca / A1A corridor: Salt air significantly affects palms within a half-mile of the ocean. More frequent nutritional assessments are needed. Coconut and Royal Palms here are high-value and high-risk.
• Mizner Park / Downtown Boca: Commercial properties with visibility standards — these palms need to look pristine year-round, which often means a tighter trim schedule than residential.
• Broken Sound, Royal Palm Y&CC, Boca West: Private community HOA standards apply. We work with HOA boards directly to create maintenance schedules that meet requirements and keep costs in line.
• West Boca / Lyons Road communities: Inland location means different pest pressure — more Ganoderma risk in low-lying areas. We flag drainage issues that affect root health.
• Highland Beach (south Boca border): Oceanfront properties with some of the most valuable palm specimens in the county. We treat these like the significant financial assets they are.
• Glades Road / Town Center adjacent: Mix of residential and commercial. HOA and association work is a large part of what we do in these neighborhoods.

If your neighborhood isn’t listed here, we still service it. This is just where we have the most repeat customers and can speak most specifically to local conditions.

Who We Are and How We Work

Tree Maid is a small operation. We don’t pretend otherwise. We run a couple of trucks, we employ local people, and we’ve built a reputation doing honest work and standing behind it when it comes to palm tree trimming Boca Raton and Palm Beach County

We’re not sending a salesperson to your property. When you call us for an estimate, someone who actually understands trees comes out, looks at what you’ve got, and gives you a straight assessment. If your palms are fine and don’t need trimming, we’ll tell you that. If there’s a problem developing that you don’t know about yet, we’ll show you and explain why it matters.

Our satisfaction guarantee is simple: if the job isn’t right when we leave, we come back and fix it. Not after a billing cycle. Not after you call three times. We fix it.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – Palm Tree Trimming Boca Raton

Questions We Get All the Time About Palm Tree Trimming in Boca Raton

Different palm species require different pruning approaches and schedules:

• Coconut Palms: Require careful frond selection – over-pruning weakens the tree’s hurricane resistance
• Royal Palms: Need precise timing to prevent palm weevil attraction during vulnerable periods
• Date Palms: Require specialized techniques to maintain fruit production while ensuring tree health
• Foxtail Palms: Demand gentle handling due to their delicate growth patterns

Get a Free On-Site Estimate for Palm Tree Trimming in Boca Raton

We come to you, walk the property, and give you a straight assessment — what needs attention now, what can wait, and what it’ll cost. No pressure, no phone quotes, no guesswork.

• ✅  Fully licensed and insured — ask to see our certificates before we start
• ✅  Local crew — we live and work in Palm Beach County
• ✅  100% Satisfaction Guarantee — if it’s not right, we fix it
• ✅  Emergency storm cleanup available

Serving Boca Raton | Delray Beach | Boynton Beach | Lake Worth Beach | West Palm Beach | all of Palm Beach County

Don’t wait until a frond is through your windshield or a pest is through your trunk. The best palm care is the kind that happens before the emergency.

“Took down a huge pine tree infested with pine beetle. Tree was close to home but they cut it down with no damage, cleaned up completely, and besides the dirt patch where the trunk was, looks like it was never there!”

– Angela Templeton, Google Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

— Guide Written by the Tree Experts on the Tree Maid Team, Lake Worth Beach, Florida

Tree Maid Tree Services  |  Lake Worth Beach, FL  |  561-246-3326  |  treemaid.com

Serving Boca Raton • Delray Beach • Boynton Beach • Lake Worth Beach • West Palm Beach • Wellington • Palm Beach Gardens & all of Palm Beach County