Quote:
Originally Posted by rexxfan
As a n00b from the north, pretty much the only trees I know how to deal with are maple trees and now I am confronted with palms. In particular palms that seem fond of having branches turn brown and fall over at random. Is this something that I could deal with myself (if I had a ladder and a saw, which I don't yet) or do I need a tree service of some sort? If the latter, any recommendations? My so-called all-in-one service company (with whom I have no major issues so far) does everything except trees. Here's a pic of the latest two branches to give up the ghost:
https://goo.gl/photos/AHms3Wa7GZK1ZBT88
Also, as to forum etiquette, would there have been a better section to post this to? Thank you kindly for any advice you can share.
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bc |
The queen palm is relatively cheap, not for zone 9a but you can enjoy it until it dies. Generally, it gets too cold here for Queens and for Bismarks. Palms are actually grasses and need fronds cut relatively often. Do not cut the fronds if there is any green in it. Let it go until it is all brown. The green leaves make "food" for the palm. Fertilize only with Lesco 8/2/12 + 4 or BGI Palm Gain 8/2/12 +4 in March, June and September. The bags will tell you how much. It's better to err on the side of not enough that to apply too much. I still prune mine and I am a 72 year old woman. I use a 17' extension pole pruner. Before I prune a palm, I spray 70% isopropol alcohol on the saw part. If someone else is doing the work for me, I spray their saw. My guy has accepted it. Good luck. And you can stop at the government annex on the corner of Morse and 466 on Mondays to get info from the Master Gardeners about pruning palms.