Caring For A Sago Palm Tree In Arizona

Caring For A Sago Palm Tree In Arizona

Sago palm trees are well suited for the unique climate in Arizona. Below is a how-to guide for sago palm tree care.

Taking Care Of A Sago Palm Tree

Ash trees are often a great addition to your yard when it is already filled with sago palms. Featuring large fronds, comparable in size to palms, these sago palms are cycads that are very closely related to conifers. Sago palms will grow in the 8, 9 and 10 zones of the USDA plant hardiness. Full mature sago palms can grow up to ten feet tall.

Planting A Sago Palm Tree

Where should you plant your sago palm tree? Well, these palms tend to grow the best in areas with a moderate amount of shade. If the plant receives an excess of sunlight, sunburnt foliage can occur. With partial shade, however, the leaves can grow larger. Sagos also need soil that drains well. Too much water, though, can cause issues with rot. The ideal planting conditions are a partly sandy site with a mix of compost.

Watering A Sago Palm Tree

You only need to water this plant when the soil is dry. Younger sago palms do appreciate regular irrigation. Typically, watering the plants every 5-7 days when there is little to no rainfall is ideal. Well established sago palms are usually drought resistant and will require rare waterings.

Fertilizing A Sago Palm Tree

Fertilizing the plant once per year in the spring time should be enough to keep it healthy. For this process, use one tablespoon per square foot of a 10-10-10 recipe for fertilizer. Put the fertilizer around the base of the palm, nearly 8-9 inches from the palm. Then water the fertilizer in. New foliage should appear as a healthy green color.

Sago Palm Tree Issues

These palms trees are extremely resistant to pests and diseases. Waterlogged soil resulting in root rot is one of the more common issues with sago palms. Properly watering the plant with a well draining soil should solve the issue, though. Sago palms can tolerate very low temperatures, but some foliage may die if the temperature drops below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pruning A Sago Palm Tree

Pruning is really only needed as a decoration of the sago palm. You can remove the cone from the palm carefully as long as the growing point beneath it remains undamaged. If left in place, the cone could fall off as new foliage begins to develop. If older foliage becomes tatty, cut it close to the trunk as soon as the new leaves unfold.

Treating A Sick Sago Palm Tree

The sago palm is sick when it starts yellowing. When nutritional deficiencies are present, feed the palm houseplant fertilizer every month. If the sago palm is indoors, try hand picking them off or placing it outdoors, allowing natural predators to eliminate the yellowing.

Palm Tree Removal Scottsdale

Liberty Tree Experts offers palm tree removal in Scottsdale, Arizona. If you are a homeowner in the Scottsdale area our team of trained, licensed, are insured tree cutting professionals that are knowledgable in palm tree removal. Each one of our technicians understands safe tree removal and cutting protocols and will get the job done quickly and safely. Call us at 480-481-1815 to schedule an appointment or for more information.