One of the more iconic plants we enjoy in Florida is the stately florida palm tree. As most residents quickly come to appreciate, there are many varieties of palms in addition to our State Tree, the cabbage palm. Those other familiar palms you will see around the state include:
- Queen
- Washington
- Date
All of these palms share the same need for proper attention to keep them healthy and growing. The lack of that care is why you will see so many distressed palms in some neighborhoods.
Providing the TLC Palms Require
Although palms are easy maintenance in their native environments, they are one of the more susceptible plants you may select for your landscaping project. If you don’t have a professional landscaping service handling your plants and grounds, you should be aware of some of the basic steps you can take to ensure you keep your palms alive and healthy. Below are five of those palm-care secrets.
1. Prune your palms carefully.
A general mistake many make is to prune their palms too often and/or incorrectly. Palms get many of their nutrients through their leaves, and removing them can starve a plant or leave it vulnerable to disease. Contrary to how you often remove damaged leaves from many plants, leave them on the palm tree until they are totally dead.
2. Plant new palms correctly.
The root system on palms is very sensitive, and you should never put fertilizer down before placing your palm tree in a new location. Otherwise, the roots will burn, and the plant will die. Rather, let the newly planted palm settle in for at least three to four weeks before fertilizing the area around it.
3. Let new plant acclimatize.
Especially if you are getting young palms from a greenhouse or heavily shaded area, give them special care for the first several months. Keep them screened to avoid sunburn if they are in intense light for extended periods and watch for yellowing or browning of leaves.
4. Fertilize your palm correctly.
Providing needed nutrients with the right fertilizer is crucial to your palm’s long-term health and ability to resist disease. Avoid burning your plant by keeping fertilizer applications at least two feet from the trunk. Plan on applying the appropriate fertilizer at least five or six times a year during the warmer months.
5. Water appropriately.
As with fertilizer, your palm trees needs water, but in the right quantities at the right time. Be sure to prepare the soil before putting in a palm by adding sand to about a 50 percent mix. While palms prefer continually moist soil, too much water will damage roots and encourage disease. This makes it important to have good drainage and to water just frequently enough to keep the area from drying out.
Palms make every yard more attractive and appealing, and you can protect your investment in this distinctive plant with just the right amount of TLC. Prefer to have professional assistance? Contact R&R Sprinkler and Landscaping company to find out how we can keep your Southwest Florida yard looking great.
R & R Sprinkler & Landscape
931 SE 11th Avenue
Cape Coral, FL 33990
(239) 772-2607
