Quote:
Originally Posted by Lottoguy
There is a palm disease called "lethal bronzing" that first started in Texas about 15 years ago. It eventually worked its way to Florida and has destroyed thousands of palm trees. I lost two of my beautiful palms in my front yard because of this disease. Once your tree gets it then there is NOTHING you can do to save the palm. This is why YOU MUST insist that all tools be santized before and cutting is done.
I now have one palm in the front that is still looking good. I did buy some palm tree fertilizer spiked and pounded them in a circle around my one good palm. Read the instructions on the box befor you use them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHQHzLQDJ1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9JRmLgpWCk |
Unfortunately lethal bronzing disease is spread by a tiny insect and when it flies to your palm trees it may be infected with a type of bacteria that has no cell wall. When the insect feasts on your palm leaves it injects this bacteria into the phloem of the tree and eventually this kills it. It can then be spread to other trees when the insect flies away. The best way to stop more infections is to quickly remove infected palm trees and also if trees are dying in your area the trees can be injected with tetracycline by a professional or knowledgeable homeowner 3 times a year. Cleaning tree trimming tools with alcohol will not prevent this disease but will prevent many other types of diseases so it is a good policy to have tree trimmers spray their tools. Sterilizing a chain saw is not that effective. Hand tools can be effectively sterilized. I go out with a bottle of alcohol and spray all the saws the workers will be using. Probably only professional arborists do this regularly without being asked. All the rest of crews have no idea what you are talking about.