It is my opinion, (from doing some research online and speaking to some master gardeners) that both rats AND roaches go where there is food, water and shelter.
They like to nest in dead palm fronds (rather than healthy, living ones)
They will also nest in mulch, under woodpiles, or in dense ground cover.
They eat fruit, vegetables, bird seed, nuts and sometimes dog droppings.
If you trim palm fruit before it ripens and falls (or clean it up when falls to the ground) and maintain proper trimming of fronds that are in need and clean up the debris,
if you have a pest control service for bugs, inside and out (like roaches)
your property will not flash a neon sign for rodents and roaches just because you have a Palm. (or a fruit tree, for that matter.)
My neighbor was told to remove her backyard fountain because IT attracted 'water rats'. (they actually saw some kind of a small rodent in their yard at night.)
SO… they removed a very expensive water feature that they REALLY enjoyed and gave it away…..
I believe the real problem is that she feeds the birds from multiple feeders throughout her yard and there is a regular supply of tasty birdseed on the ground.
