Guidelines issued for use of palms in Palm Sunday celebrations

The Plant Health Directorate has issued guidelines for the pruning of palm fronds ahead of Palm Sunday celebrations.

According to Legal Notice 42 of 2009, pruning of palm trees for the celebration of Palm Sunday can only occur with the permission of the Directorate, in an effort to prevent infection of palm trees by the Red Palm Weevil.

The Directorate has recommended that palm fronds should have a diameter no bigger than 5cm. The base of the frond should be left in tact. Selecting young fronds provides less surface area where the insect can gain entry into the tree to lay its eggs. After pruning, the trimmed end should be coated in a pruning mixture to seal off the wound.

Any trees being pruned for the purpose of the celebration are to be registered with the Plant Health Directorate and any fronds used for celebrations in Gozo can only be collected from the garden of the Gozo general hospital, under the supervision of Afforestation and Public Gardens section.

Further information can be requested by calling 22927106 or freephone 80072310, emailing at [email protected] or visiting www.planthealth.gov.mt.