I have moved into a new home with a beautiful palm tree in the garden?
Question:could anyone tell me the best way to maintain it. there are two stray tree like shoots sprouting from amid the branches and im not sure if i should cut them back. a lot of the palmshoots on the underside have browned , any help on what to do would be greatly appreciated thanks
Answers:
The shoots could be the flower stalks of the palm - is there any branching or bud development on them? If so, don't cut until the flower/fruit cycle is complete (it will dry out and turn brown - cut it then).
If in fact it is a sago, (a cycad, not a true palm) the browning or yellowing shoots could indicate a manganese deficiency, which is quite common. You can get a liquid manganese concentrate and soak the foliage as well as the root zone. I've done that and then cut back all the fronds to the base (wait 1 week after final application so it can absorb the magnesium) - it looks bald and dead for a while but will soon set out healthy new growth to replace the old.
I'm not sure what kind you have, king, saga, Mexican or queen palm by your description. But they are relatively easy to care for. If it is a Mexican palm, I would trim off those volunteers because this species is like a weed and can get out of control very quickly. The frawns that have browned or are dead should be cut off and removed. Around here they catch on fire very easily particularly when we have Santa Ana's or are around electric wires. It also promotes new growth. There is a type of palm fertilizer that you can purchase, but I have a saga that has been in the ground for 9 years and I've only ever given it compost tea or Miracle grow sporadically. I would definitely look up the type of species you have on the Internet to have a better idea of what your tree will require in terms of water, pruning, fertilizing, etc. for the zone you are in.
You luck girl, a great trick, go straight up to it and look up...hey presto your on holiday!! seriously, I don't think they need that much maintance, as they grow in extremely hot countries but they do shread large leaves which leave your garden in a mess. As you may have guest, im not an expert, Go to your local library or garden centre better still - internet!
goodluck. Jamie 28yrs
More Related Questions & Answers...