The dead leaves on a yucca plant will eventually dry up and fall off on their own. If you want to get rid of the unsightly brown leaves right away, cut them off just above the leaf base. This method keeps the base of each leaf attached to the trunk of the yucca, protecting it from insects, disease, and the elements.
Needle Palm Yucca filamentosa Bright Edge
It is possible (and common) to also gently pull the dead leaves downward until they detach from the trunk, but this will remove the entire leaf, including the base, leaving the yucca’s trunk exposed and vulnerable.
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How To Safely Trim A Yucca Plant
The leaves of a yucca tree sometimes remain attached after they turn brown and die. Removing dead foliage can expose a yucca’s unconditioned trunk to direct sunlight and lower temperatures, which isn’t great! But, in our opinion, just leave it!
Pruning Large Yucca Trees
Large tree yuccas are strong trunks with twisted branches at the top. Wild yucca trees are not manicured; they have a shaggy appearance with the remains of old, dead leaves clinging to their trunks in various stages of disorderliness. If you want your giant yucca tree to have a smoother appearance, trim off the dead, brown fronds just above the trunk’s junction, leaving the base of each leaf attached to the trunk to serve as a protective covering from pests and diseases. But, in our opinion, just leave it!
Pruning Smaller Ornamental Yucca
Smaller yucca trees, ranging in height from 3 to 15 feet, are more common. You can wait for the leaves to fall off naturally but removing the dead leaves will keep your yucca looking fresh and green. Pull the leaves down carefully to remove them from the trunk. This strategy, however, exposes the trunk to pests, diseases, and elements. The healthiest option for your tree is to clip each dead leaf about an inch above the point where it meets the tree’s trunk, leaving the leaf’s base connected to preserve the trunk. But, in our opinion, just leave it!
Pruning Bushy Yucca Shrubs
The bushy, trunkless yuccas that grow near the ground are gardeners’ favourites. Because bushy yuccas grow outward rather than up, the dead brown leaves you want to remove will usually be near the middle of the plant. Snip these leaves off about an inch above the root with a sharp knife or pruning shears.
Avoid cutting into the plant’s fragile center core, which rests just above the ground. Remember to wear strong gardening gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when trimming yucca leaves because they can be harsh and prickly. But, in our opinion, just leave it!
Further reading on Yuccas
- Common issues when growing Yucca plants
- How to care for Yucca plants in the UK
- How to repot a yucca plant
- What’s the difference between yucca can and a yucca plant?
- What’s a good choice for a variegated yucca plant?
