Transcript Palm Nutrition and Management

FERTILIZER APPLICATION RATES:

Field production or landscape:
 Up
to 15 lbs./ 1000 sq. ft. every 3 months of 8-212-4Mg
 Lbs. of material, not lbs. of N
 =4.8 lbs. of N/1000 sq. ft/yr
MIXED LANDSCAPE FERTILIZATION

Why integrated approach?
 All
types of plants are growing in same deficient soil
 Palm and tree roots co-exist with turf roots
 Products applied to turf can be harmful to palms
and trees
 Simplicity!
MIXED LANDSCAPE FERTILIZATION
Do NOT use turf fertilizers on any turf area
within 50 feet of a palm
 DO use recommended “palm special”
landscape fertilizer on turf and all ornamentals
in mixed landscapes

TREATING SEVERE PALM DEFICIENCIES

Be Patient!
 Micronutrient
deficiencies may not show recovery
until new leaves affected by treatment emerge from
the bud 4-6 months later
 Macronutrient deficiencies (if excepted) will require
replacement of entire canopy, a process that can
take from 1 to 2 years or more
REMEMBER: IF YOU CAN’T USE THE
CORRECT FERTILIZER, YOU ARE
BETTER OFF NOT FERTILIZING AT ALL!!
WATER EFFICIENTLY
Over-watering most palms greatly increases the
likelihood of root rot and fertilizer leaching
 Watering infrequently and for a longer duration
increases drought tolerance
 Most rainforest palms are not recommended
for south ‘Florida Landscapes’

WATERING YOUR PALMS

In general, once a plant is established water only
when it wilts.





Leaves begin to droop and do not recover as the evening
approaches
Water only according to water restrictions.
Don’t water before an expected rain.
Water early in the morning to reduce water loss due to
evaporation.
Water only until palms are established
MULCHING PALMS
Conserves water
 Moderates soil
temperature
 Discourages weeds
 Eliminates damage
from mowers and
line trimmers

MULCHING PALMS
Apply 3-4 inches thick
around all palms
 Reapplied annually or
semi-annually

WHAT TO TRIM?
Dead leaves and fruit stalks
 Badly damaged leaves
 Flower stalks?
 Fruit stalks?

HOW MUCH TO REMOVE?
If deficiencies exist, remove only dead leaves
 If deficiencies are corrected, remove no more
(preferably less) leaves than will be produced
during intervals between pruning
 Never remove leaves at an angle above the
horizontal (9:00 to 3:00)

LEAF PRODUCTION (SOUTH FLORIDA)
Species
Cocos nucifera
Phoenix canariensis
Sabal Palmetto
Washingtonia robusta
Number of leaves
10
50
8
13
HOW TO REMOVE LEAVES?
Cut leaf base close, but not into trunk
 Sterilize tools between trees (especiallty
Phoenix sp., queen palms, and Mexican fan
palms
 Do not attempt to tear leaves off if persistent –
can leave permanent trunk wound and
potential entry site for disease organisms

NO PRUNING NEEDED

In spite of what your
customers want…
OVER PRUNING DATE PALMS
Severely over pruned!
STRESS SYMPTOMS OF OVER-PRUNING
Over-flower
production is a
common response
 This adds additional
stress to the plant

CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS



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Parts of this presentation were adapted from a
presentation created by Kim Gabel, Horticulture
Extension Agent, Monroe County UF-IFAS Extension.
Photographs IPM used in this presentation by: B.
Graves, Adrian Hunsberger.
Palm nutrition and deficiencies, From Dr. Timothy
Broschat, Fort Lauderdale Research Center.
Palm Anatomy, From Dr. Monica Elliott, Fort
Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
PREGUNTAS?