Pruning: Maintaining Palm

Why pruning is done on palms? It is done to remove dead or dying fronds and fruiting clusters. It is usually done on yearly basis. As often as three to six months, coconuts are pruned in tropical climates.

When pruning, palm should treat nutrient deficiencies because pruning nutrient deficient palms could cause symptoms to appear in remaining foliage. Take note also that over pruning palms can cause slower growth and may attract more pests.

Palms Diseases and Pests

You probably have the idea that palms are also susceptible to infections by viruses, bacteria, and fungi, and to infestation by insects and other pests as well. Infectious agents and pests vary widely by region and country. However, worry no more because there are university extension services, consulting arborist, or Plant Health Care specialist familiar with palms in your area that may be able to provide a diagnosis and suggestions for treatment.

Mulching: Maintaining Palm

Did you know that organic mulches are beneficial to palms as they are to trees? Proper mulching is by applying 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around a palm at a distance of 2 to 4 feet. Remember to keep mulch away from the trunk. Mulch can reduce the likelihood of damage from string trimmers or lawn mowers.

Maintaining Palm: Fertilizers

We all know that different trees nutritional requirements vary from other plants. For palms, there are specially formulated palm fertilizers that are available in the market. These fertilizers help prevent nutritional deficiencies. You should also know that improper fertilization can lead to problems such as magnesium deficiency (which leads to yellowing fronds), iron deficiency (which leads to yellowing young fronds, green mature fronds), manganese deficiency, particularly in alkaline soils (yellowed, frizzled young fronds), and zinc deficiency (small fronds).

How To Plant Palms?

Here are some tips to planting palm. First thing to consider is to protect the terminal bud in order to avoid damaging or killing the palm. Extra protection should be given to the terminal bud of the palm especially when transporting the palm because excessive vibration may crack the bud. During transport and installation, containerized palms should have their fronds tied together. And prior to transport, dead or dying fronds should be removed.

In order to allow room for backfilling soil around the root ball, the planting hole for palm should be large enough. Always plant the palm at the same depth as it was originally grown. And take note that planting too deeply may lead to manganese or iron deficiencies. Likewise, planting too high may cause the palm to blow over and expose the root initiation zone to air.

The best soil for palms is sand or loamy sand soils. This provides aeration for the roots and adequate drainage.

Palm Quality

pIf the palm has a root ball extending from about 8 inches to 2 feet beyond the trunk for palms less than 16 feet tall, a palm trunk free of mechanical wounds and/or wounds from incorrect pruning, a full crown of healthy, vigorous fronds, and a uniform trunk diameter, then the pal is high quality. However, if the palm has trunk selections of varying diameter or small diameter below the terminal bud, a trunk with wounds from mechanical impacts or incorrect pruning, and few fronds, poor color for the species, or pest infestation, then the palm is low quality.

Palm Selection

In selecting palm is like those for selecting trees. Here are some of the factors to be considered in selecting a palm. These are questions that will help you choose the right tree for the right place.

1. Why plant palm? Is it for your landscape?
2. What is the size and location of the soil or planting site? Is it large, medium, or small palm? Are there any other trees in the planting site?
3. What is your soil condition? Is the soil deep, fertile, and well drained, or is it shallow, compacted, and infertile?
4. How much maintenance are you willing to provide?