hurricane cut
n.— «Removing flower and fruit clusters is also fine. This debris can be messy and also potentially hazardous. This removal also reduces the number of weedy palm seedlings that could sprout up around the base. Overpruning can be detrimental to a palm. “hurricane cuts,” as they are called, stresses the palm to a point where there is an increased chance of disease and insect invasion.» —“Resolutions for gardening in the new year” by Ralph Mitchell Sun-Herald (Charlotte Harbor, Florida) Dec. 31, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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