Potted Palm Tree Care Archives - Liberty Tree Experts

25Aug2021

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Palm Tree Care

How can you care for your palm trees throughout the year? Follow our guide to properly care for your trees and guard against any potential pests and/or diseases.

Palm Tree Care Tips

Routine maintenance is needed to keep your palms at maximum health. Use these care tips below:

Soil

Compacted soil found in many urban areas does not offer the type of nutrients required for a palm tree to thrive. These trees actually acquire a lot of their nutrients from the top of the ground and topsoil. This means fertilization is needed.

Roots

Since these roots do not grow very deep into the ground, they will require occasional care. The majority of palm trees feature just one trunk. The point at the top of the trunk is known as the terminal bud. If the top gets damaged, the tree could die.

Watering

Water a new palm tree twice per week for the first six months of life. Add enough water to penetrate at least 18 inches of the soil. If the soil is sort of a sandy mix, extra water is needed. Watering requirements for older palm trees will depend on the climate.

Pruning

Yellowing or browning fronds should be removed, but refrain from trimming too close to the palm tree trunk. Bark can be easily damaged and any wounds will be used as entry points by potential pests and diseases. As new fronds grow, the older ones will die off.

Palm Tree Diseases

Inspect your palms often to watch for any potential diseases.

Bud Rot

This is a fungi that can cause the fronds to wilt and eventually perish. Total demise of the tree may follow afterwards. Mexican and California palms are especially vulnerable to bud rots.

Lethal Yellowing

First observed in the Caribbean area nearly 100 years ago, this disease eventually saw a massive outbreak in the Florida Keys and Jamaica.

Fusarium Wilt

This disease causes the fronds to start wilting, eventually losing their green color and die. When a palm gets infected, there is really no remedy for this disease.

Ganoderma Butt Rot

A newer fatal disease of Florida palms, it is caused by a fungus called Ganoderma zonatum. This will attack the base or "butt" of the tree at a height of 3-4 feet above the ground. This disease has been attacking palms since 1994.

Palm Tree Pests

Always be mindful of these potential threats to your palms.

Palm Budworm

This is a type of beetle whose larvae feeds on flowers of a large range of fan palms. These beetles are about an inch long and are pink and green in color.

Royal Palm Bug

These pests will feed on only the royal palms, but females will lay one egg a day there during the spring. They will rarely kill the tree, but they will cause considerable damage.

Giant Palm Borer

This is a large beetle that targets the wood of Phoenix and Washington species. The borer grubs can survive inside palm trees for up to 9 years.

Thrips

This is a significantly large family of insects, feeding on palm flowers and leaves. While they aren't lethal to palms, they will cause discoloration. You may start to notice black droppings on the leaves, as well.

Palmetto Weevil

They are found in Florida, Texas and South Carolina. They have a record of infesting saw palmettos, Washington palms, Canary Island date palms, royal palms, and even coconut palms.

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