Growing Palm Trees
What You Need to Know about Growing Palm Trees
One of the most rewarding parts of landscaping in tropical areas is growing palm trees. Some of the species also fare well in northern climates as well.
Palm trees need good soil, above all. The type of soil you plant in will determine the amount of nutrients and water that your tree will get. You will want to fertilize when you plant your palm tree, too. Palm trees thrive on specially formulated fertilizers, so check with your nursery to find out the best type of fertilizer for your growing palm trees.
The physical parts of planting palm trees aren't much different than other types of tree-planting. Be sure to plant your palm tree soon after you purchase it, or at least make sure the root ball stays moist if you don't plant right away. Dig a hole about twice as wide as your tree's root ball, so the roots will have lots of room to grow. After you plant the tree, fill in the hole with the dirt you removed from it.
You need to frequently water your growing palm trees. Water daily for the first few weeks, and taper the watering off after that. Make sure that the soil is never dry around your palm tree, or it will weaken the roots and the tree itself. Be careful when you use weed-whackers and lawnmowers around your palm trees. Take care not to damage the bark of the tree. That will make your tree easier prey for insects and disease.
Once your palm tree is established, it doesn't require a great deal of extra care, but during its initial growing period, put forth some effort and give your tree some TLC. Palm trees prefer a beneficial fungi added to their soil. This mycorrhizal fungi will give your palm trees the extra nutrients that they need to thrive and establish themselves.
As palm trees mature, some of the older fronds will brown, die, and fall off. You can also prune the dead fronds if they don't fall right away. Be sure to only prune the dead fronds, and don't cut too close to the trunk. If your palm tree is large, you may want to leave pruning to a landscaper.
There are some species of palm trees that are faster growing than others. Generally, landscapers and gardeners prefer a tree that will mature fairly rapidly, so that they can begin to enjoy them that much sooner. They can also provide you with a cover canopy sooner if they are faster growing palm trees. A canopy of palm trees can provide you with protection from the sun on hotter days, and can help maintain your humidity closer to the ground. Faster growing trees will also provide you with the feeling of being in a rain forest sooner, and give you a tropical flair in your yard.