Caring for Palm Trees

Palm trees belong to the family Palmae that consist of about 230 genera and 3000 species. Certain species of this group are indigenous to warmer places of US like southern California and southern Florida. However, there are a large number of exotic species that can be grown as ornamental plants. The relaxing and majestic look that a palm tree gives to a house has made it very popular with most homeowners. In case you are planning to plant a palm tree in your garden, or already have one, regular watering and adding fertilizers can easily ensure healthy growth of these beautiful trees.

How to Care for Palm Trees

Selecting the Right Kind

Proper care of a plant starts right from the time one decides to buy or plant one. One has to be specially careful with palm trees, because the composition of the soil of urban areas may not always be suitable for healthy palm tree growth. It is important to be aware of how tall the plant would grow on maturity. Some palm trees may grow as tall as 50 feet and may interfere with the overhead lines, underground cables and even threaten buildings, if the tree is planted too close to these. The second factor to consider is the temperature. Although most varieties of palm trees can bear some amount of cold, these trees do not grow in freezing weather. Sunlight is the third factor to consider while planting palms. Though almost all varieties require generous amounts of sunlight, not all of them are equally tolerant to sunlight. In fact, there are some varieties that grow well only in shady places. The fourth important factor is water. Since these plants are found in desert oases, one should not overlook the fact that they need water in abundance.

Planting

One should make sure that the palm tree is planted as soon as it is bought. In case there is any possibility of a delay, care should be taken that the root ball is kept moist. The hole into which the tree is to be planted should be twice as big as the root ball, and the depth should be the same as it was in the nursery where it was earlier planted. Building a soil barrier to hold enough water for the roots to always remain moist is a good measure. Periodic watering and adding fertilizers to the soil will ensure that the tree is firmly established in the soil. While planting the tree, care should be taken that the bark is not stripped or cut, as this would serve as an entry point for insects and germs that may cause serious infection to the tree.

Maintenance

• Soil: Once a palm tree is planted, caring for it does not involve a lot of hard work. The most important component for proper growth of palm trees is the soil. Adding mycorrhizal fungi to the soil increases the root area of the plant by up to 1000%. These micro organisms live in symbiotic association with the plant, and get food from the palm tree in exchange for nutrients and moisture. Soil that palm trees grow in tend to lose minerals due to leeching. Hence, lack of certain minerals in the soil is a common problem for palm trees. There are special palm tree fertilizers that release minerals slowly to the soil. This ensures a continuous supply of nutrients to the trees. The main minerals that should be supplied through fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Although adding fertilizer twice a year is the minimum requirement for proper growth, four applications is better. It is also good to punch holes in the soil wherever possible, as this would allow the nutrients to seep into the soil. The soil should be thoroughly soaked with water after adding the fertilizer.
• Pruning: Palm fronds should be pruned only if they droop below a line parallel to the ground. As palm fronds start to turn brown, nutrients are recycled from these fronds and sent to the other parts of the plant. Under no circumstance should palm leaves be ripped or pulled off the tree.
• Watering: This depends upon the climate of the place where the tree is growing. Watering the palm tree twice a month during the summer, and once every six weeks during the winter, should be enough to meet the water requirement of the plant. As far as the method of watering is concerned, a slow or drip type of watering for a few hours works better than a quick heavy drench with a hose pipe.

Palm trees do not require too much of maintenance. Just selecting the right type of tree for the house, and giving that little bit of care, will ensure the healthy growth of a palm tree, that will add a tropical look to the house like no other plant.