Palm Tree Problem

[johng]

Hi - I have a palm tree that has recently experienced degradation of the fronds. The fronds are fraying and turning yellow and brown. About 2-3 weeks ago I had to remove 5 fronds that were damaging my home. Also, I live in Austin, TX and we have been experiencing very dry conditions over the last year. Any help is appreciated.

 

[jomoco]

Hi - I have a palm tree that has recently experienced degradation of the fronds. The fronds are fraying and turning yellow and brown. About 2-3 weeks ago I had to remove 5 fronds that were damaging my home. Also, I live in Austin, TX and we have been experiencing very dry conditions over the last year. Any help is appreciated.

The pics are poor, but there's nothing wrong with that mex fan palm to my eye at all. They are extremely drought resistant once established. It's perfectly normal for the lower rings of fronds to brown out.

Better pics of the whole tree crown and base would help.

Use a better camera with higher resolution.

jomoco

 

[johng]

Thanks - here is a better photo. The JPGs are limited to 300k. My concern is that the fronds were all green and stiff before and now are brown and drooping on the ends.

 

[jomoco]

Thanks - here is a better photo. The JPGs are limited to 300k. My concern is that the fronds were all green and stiff before and now are brown and drooping on the ends.

Looks perfectly normal and healthy to me John.

A pic of the palm's base at ground level please.

jomoco

 

[johng]

Thanks, it must be normal fluctuation in the tree - here is a picture of the base and photo (poor quality, due to window screen) from about six weeks ago showing the more healthy looking fronds. You can see my concern has been the quick change in appearance.

 

[outofmytree]

Hi John. In the 3rd photo you can see the fronds cropped too close to the top. I would avoid over pruning as this is just one way of stressing the plant. On the other hand I think Washingtonia's were the inspiration for Monsanto's development of Glyphosate so perhaps you should take my comments with the proverbial grain of salt...

 

[Xino5544]

Your palm concern

When was the last time you did fertilize the palm?
What about watering?
What about current weather?

 

[johng]

Xino - I only bought the home around xmas and do not know if it has been fertilized at all. I bought some fertilizer today and plan on putting it out this week. Also, not sure about previous watering. I am watering once a week now. Currently, Austin area is in a severe drought condition. Thanks

 

[Xino5544]

Your palm concern

John,

We are in the middle of Winter, do not fertilize. You should wait until end of March or middle of April.
Austin should get some low temperatures during this time of the year, I wouldn't be surprise if you get some burning of the leaves...look at your other plants.
Regarding watering, Washingtonias are pretty fair tolerant to lack of water, if you are irrigating once a week that probably will suffice.
Let the season end and let us know.

Regards,

 

[davido]

tree is fine

That palm looks fine. What looks messed up is that it was planted too close to the house.

 

[davido]

again

The fronds trimmed high appear to be the result of an attempt to keep said tree from making contact with the house. As I said, the tree is fine. The easy fix would be to slide the house away from the tree about six to eight feet.

 

[Ekka]

The palm has been buried too deep.

The palm has been planted too close to the house.

The palm can grow 70'+ tall so consider how you will manage both the flowers and their dropping along with the dead "beard" of fronds.

Palms are nutrient greedy, buy a slow release palm specialist fert along with some soil wetting agent so you can expedite your mistakes. :hmm3grin2orange:

You know people can die cleaning them crap sticks! :deadhorse:

 

[Xino5544]

John,

I didn't look at all the pictures, Ekka brought a good point. Your palm was planted too deep. This is common mistake that causes unnecessary stress to trees and headaches to homeowners.

Trees planted too close to buildings is another common mistake. Landscape architects and landscape contractors do not picture mature trees...... arborists got to deal with these issues.