Palm trees are among the most beautiful and hardy of all tree species. We’re here to explain how to care for a palm tree so that it stays beautiful for as long as possible.
How to care for newly planted palm trees
Your palm tree needs the most TLC in the first six months to one year after you plant it. Because the newly planted tree hasn’t had time to establish deep roots, it’s vulnerable to drought and heat. Here’s how to take care of your newly planted palm tree so that it grows big and strong.
1. Improve your soil
First thing’s first: You have to plant your palm in the right kind of soil if you want it to succeed. All palm species like a well-drained, loose, porous, and light soil mixture. Sandy loam is the best choice to help new palm trees spread their roots.
In case your soil is heavy or poorly drained, you can mix in one of the following soil amendments to loosen it up:
- Sawdust
- Cedar bark
- Ground bark
- Aged lawn cuttings
Most palm species thrive in soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5 (moderately acidic to slightly alkaline). If the soil in your yard is too acidic (lower pH) or too alkaline (higher pH), you can change your soil’s pH with the following:
- For acidic soil: Mix dolomite limestone into your soil before planting to neutralize the acidity.
- For alkaline soil: Mix organic matter (such as compost) into your soil before planting to lower the pH.
Pro tip: Leave some soil on the palm root ball when transplanting the tree from the container to the ground. The soil will help to reduce transplant shock.
2. Plant in a spot with the right sun exposure
All palms need plenty of sun, but exactly how much varies by species. Some species need full sun, which means at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Others prefer dappled or partial shade, which means four to six hours of direct sunlight per day (preferably in the morning, when the sun’s heat is less intense).
Before planting, make sure you know the exact species of palm you’re purchasing. A quick Google search will tell you how much sunlight you need for that species.
3. Water frequently
Established palm trees are drought-resistant and rarely need watering, but newly planted palms are a different story. After transplanting your palm tree into the ground, you’ll need to follow a strict watering schedule for the first few months.
- For two to three weeks after planting: Water once daily
- For the next two to three months after that: Water deeply twice a week
Pro tip: Overwatering is just as dangerous for your new palm tree as underwatering, so keep an eye on the weather and don’t water after rain. Make sure water doesn’t sit in a puddle around the palm’s roots.
4. Feed with the right fertilizer
Slow-release palm fertilizer releases essential plant nutrients (mainly nitrogen) into the soil gradually over time, which prevents fertilizer burn and helps your palm develop a strong root system.
Apply your slow-release fertilizer in different amounts depending on the size of the palm when you plant it.
- 4 feet tall: Apply 2 pounds of fertilizer
- 10 feet tall: Apply 5 pounds of fertilizer
- 20 feet tall: Apply 10 pounds of fertilizer
Fertilize your new palm two to three times during its growing season, which usually falls between March and October. Never fertilize outside of the growing season when your palm tree is dormant.
How to care for established palm trees
Once established, palm trees require little maintenance. Here’s what you need to do to keep your palm healthy after the first year.
1. Prune dead fronds
Most palm trees are “self-cleaning” – they shed their fronds naturally and thus do not require regular pruning. However, you do need to prune damaged or dead fronds (which will fade to yellow or brown) to prevent them leaching nutrients from the healthy parts of the plant.
A few tips for pruning your palm:
- Always prune during your palm’s growing season (usually March – October) to ensure new, healthy fronds replace the old ones.
- Sanitize your shears before they ever touch your palm. Infected tools can spread disease.
- Trim fronds back to at least two inches from the trunk. Cutting any closer can damage the trunk, inviting pests and plant diseases.
- Don’t prune more than once or twice a year. Over-pruning can weaken the palm’s health, leading to stunted growth and eventually the death of the plant.
2. Avoid overwatering
Unlike newly planted palms, established palms don’t need much water, especially if you plant them outdoors where they’re exposed to rain.
For outdoor palms: Water twice per month during summer and once every six weeks in cooler weather. Don’t water after rain.
For indoor palms: Water once the top 1 – 2 inches of soil has dried out. Add water to the pot and let it drain to the bottom to nourish the roots.
If you see standing water around the base of your palm, you’re watering too much. On the other hand, palm fronds with yellow or brown tips may indicate that you aren’t watering enough.
3. Fertilize regularly
Fertilize your mature palm tree one to three times each year during its growing season with a fertilizer specially formulated for palms. Check your fertilizer bag to find out exactly how often you should apply it. If your fertilizer says “feeds consistently for 3 months,” for example, you’ll need to apply more after three months.
Spread the fertilizer evenly around your palm’s root zone, avoiding the area 1 – 2 feet around the base of the trunk. Apply ½ – 1 pound of fertilizer for every inch of the trunk’s diameter.
How to nurse distressed palm trees
Even if you take good care of your palm, it can suffer from pests or diseases. Here’s how to help your palm survive times of stress.
Pests in palm trees
The most common pests that attack palm trees are:
- Spider mites
- Mealybugs
- Scale insects
- Thrips
- Giant palm borer
- Palm budworm
You can prevent or eliminate these pests with the following methods:
- Prune properly to reduce the chance of pest attack.
- Spray with pesticides to eliminate existing infestations. Figure out what type of pest you’re dealing with first so you can choose the right pesticide to wipe it out.
- Rub the palm fronds with soap, water, and alcohol to eliminate mealybugs.
Diseases in palm trees
Like any plant, palm trees are affected by diseases that may result from nutrient deficiency, overwatering, underwatering, fungal infestation, drought stress, freezing, etc.
The most common diseases to look out for in palm trees are:
- Leaf spots and blights
- Root rot disease
- Ganoderma butt rot
- Sooty mold
- Bud rot
- False smut
- Pink rot
- Fusarium wilt
- Lethal yellowing
- Diamond scale
- Thielaviopsis trunk rot
Palm diseases can be treated and controlled through:
- Applying the right amount of fertilizer at the right time to help your palm grow stronger and fight off the disease.
- Trimming the infected fronds and roots with disinfected shears.
- Replanting the palm in a new area.
- Applying fungicides to the infected areas.
- Avoid injuring the palm or cutting too close to the trunk when pruning.
- Avoid wetting the fronds during irrigation.
- Improve soil aeration to prevent standing water, which encourages fungal diseases.
- Don’t overwater, as too much water weakens the palm’s roots and fosters disease.
Signs of a distressed palm
How can you tell when your palm tree is struggling and needs a pick-me-up? Here are some of the most common signs of a distressed palm:
- Discoloration
- Frizzled fronds
- Stunted growth
- Wilting of the older fronds.
- Foul odor from the trunk
- Deformed new shoots
FAQ
A. No. Palm trees are drought-tolerant once established. They can survive with a minimal amount of water in the soil.
A. If your area freezes in winter, you’ll need to protect your palm from the frost by:
> Covering the palm tree with a heavy frost blanket before freezing temperatures hit.
> Moving potted palms indoors before the first freeze.
> Waiting until spring to prune dead fronds if the freezing temperatures kill them.
A. The most common culprit is too much sunlight. If a potted palm’s fronds start turning brown, move it to a shadier spot. If the browning palm is planted in the ground, you’ll have to create some shade by installing a canopy or planting taller trees around it.
Other causes of browning palm leaves include pests and diseases. If your palm is suffering from a pest infestation or plant disease, you’ll probably see other signs, as well (see the section of this article about distressed palms for more information).
The final word on palm tree care
Palm trees are low-maintenance, and keeping them healthy shouldn’t take up too much of your time. All you have to do is provide the right conditions – the correct amount of sunlight, healthy soil, plenty of plant nutrients, and just the right amount of water – and your palm tree will thrive.
Does your brown thumb struggle even with low-maintenance plants like palms? Call on one of Lawn Love’s professional gardeners for help.
Main photo credit: Wikimedia | CC-BY-SA-4.0
