How to prune emperor sago

After new leaf flushes have fully expanded and hardened, typically spring. Use sanitized, sharp bypass pruners to cut dead fronds at the base of the petiole. Wear gloves — frond tips are stiff and sharp. Wipe blades with alcohol between plants to avoid spreading Phytophthora or scale.

As needed, once or twice a year. Emperor Sago (Cycas taitungensis) needs only cosmetic pruning. Remove fully dead or brown fronds by cutting cleanly at the petiole base after new leaves have hardened. This cycad grows very slowly and produces infrequent leaf flushes, so there is rarely much to remove. Never cut green fronds or damage the central bud.

Use sanitized, sharp bypass pruners to cut dead fronds at the base of the petiole. Wear gloves — frond tips are stiff and sharp. Wipe blades with alcohol between plants to avoid spreading Phytophthora or scale.