5 Tips for Palm Tree Growth & Health | Cut Above Tree Care

Create the perfect tropical oasis without even needing to leave your backyard with a palm tree. There are so many varieties to choose from that you're truly spoilt for choice when it comes to adding this exotic vibe to your garden. Just like every other plant, palms need proper care and maintenance to thrive. Wondering what you can do to keep your palm looking perfect? Read on for our top five tips.

Water well

The amount of water your palm tree needs will depend on its particular species. There are drought-tolerant and tropical palms, each requiring its own level of watering. We recommend watering palms once a week, and more regularly during the heat of summer.

Fertilise, fertilise, fertilise

A controlled-release fertiliser applied to ground-planted and potted palms during spring encourages great health and proper growth. Increase the amount of fertiliser applied during the autumn and summer months to really get your palm tree to flourish.

Prune wisely

If you notice untidy, dying or dead fronds, prune them by cutting them off close to the stem. Never prune the top off a palm with a solitary trunk, as this will kill the tree. As single-trunked palms are monocarpic, meaning they flower only once before dying, they won't regrow as most other trees do. If you prune the top, you'll cause damage to the only growth point. A suckering palm or one with several trunks will generally reshoot if there's damage to one trunk.

Look out for lesions

If you notice brown spots or lesions on your palm tree's foliage, this might be due to fungal disease or cold temperatures. You can get your tree looking green again by removing the affected leaves, spraying the tree with a fungicide, and doing what you can to boost growing conditions. 

You might notice your palm's leaves displaying brown edges - this is due to dry air. You can raise the humidity by regularly misting your leaves using water from a spray bottle or hose.

Select smart soil

Soil that's alkaline can cause nutrient deficiencies in palm trees - particularly in zinc, manganese and iron. You can reduce the pH of your soil and improve your tree's health by applying compost, moss peat, pine bark, or sulphur in either liquid or granulated form.

Want to grow the perfect palm? Choose Cut Above Tree Care

For quality palm tree care and maintenance in Toowoomba, call the experts at Cut Above Tree Care. With our managing director Corey at the helm, we proudly take on any size and scope of the job with the commitment to quality workmanship, professionalism, safety and care that sets us a cut above the rest. We're a locally-owned business with over fifteen years of experience in the industry, so you can count on us to be there when it matters. Call us today on 0412 303 650.