Palm trees

[jimbo2012]

What palms would you never buy/plant again?

What are your favorites?

If you can post a pic that would be helpful.

http://www.palmsforsale.com/images/product/Sylvester%20Palm%20-%20Phoenix%20slyvestris.jpg

[graciegirl]

I am told by a few seasoned, not seasonal,residents in our village that palms are a lot of maintainance, Palmetto bugs live in the scales of the trunks of some. (I THINK those are those BIG roaches) The bearded ones look half dead all of the time, and I don't like those. Some of the palms in the older area get VERY tall and they are certainly not shading anything. The palms seen in the landscaping of the public areas, put in by the developer are hardy and don't get damage from frost, but they also cost LOTS of money..(like a thousand each?) The more reasonable ones in cost that everyone buys are prone to frost damage, I am told.

Most people want palm trees because they are tropical and new, but I am sitting back and observing and listening. I love this forum. I want to hear from people who have lived here for awhile and not someone trying to sell me something, don'tcha know. ;)

I like the ones in your picture Jimbo, are their trunks naturally that orange color, I wonder?

Excellent thread.

[stuckinparadise]

We had a Sylvester Palm put in our front yard. The landscaper said it could withstand the cold. I surely hope he was right, as it was a little pricey. I don't have a picture yet because we haven't been back to our home in TV since the palm was planted.

[Joaniesmom]

As above, don't know one from another. There are several at our new home. Should we sell or call in a back hoe? :loco: Hope this url works!

http://www.thevillages.com/homes/vls/vlsimages/211163_6.jpg

[rubicon]

I am told by a few seasoned, not seasonal,residents in our village that palms are a lot of maintainance, Palmetto bugs live in the scales of the trunks of some. (I THINK those are those BIG roaches) The bearded ones look half dead all of the time, and I don't like those. Some of the palms in the older area get VERY tall and they are certainly not shading anything. The palms seen in the landscaping of the public areas, put in by the developer are hardy and don't get damage from frost, but they also cost LOTS of money..(like a thousand each?) The more reasonable ones in cost that everyone buys are prone to frost damage, I am told.

Most people want palm trees because they are tropical and new, but I am sitting back and observing and listening. I love this forum. I want to hear from people who have lived here for awhile and not someone trying to sell me something, don'tcha know. ;)

I like the ones in your picture Jimbo, are their trunks naturally that orange color, I wonder?

Excellent thread.

Hi GG I ahd three queens planted in m front yeard when we first moved in and thaey came equipped with palmetto. One flew in my house. I called pest control and the guy told me not to be concerned because they only live 72 hours. I tod him it was 72 hours too long. He sprayed and I had him come back a year alter to spray again because my neighbor had her landscapper plant six queens. i have not had a problem since. My queens acascade so nicely and my neighbors have gone out o their way to tell me they enjoy them. They have stayed about the height of the house and are strong. Who knows what the future holds.

[Bonny]

I love the Queen Palms. We have several of them.

[Barefoot]

We had a Sylvester Palm put in our front yard. The landscaper said it could withstand the cold. I surely hope he was right, as it was a little pricey. I don't have a picture yet because we haven't been back to our home in TV since the palm was planted.

Yes, Sylvester Palms can flourish in The Villages weather. It's my favorite type of palm tree, especially if the trunk is diamond cut to give that nice orange glow. We had a double (curved) Sylvester planted in our front yard and we love it! We also have Queens and an European Fan Palm. We made our decisions by googling "frost hardy palms".

[jimbo2012]

Does $5-600 sound about right for a 6-7' Sylvester.

[Happinow]

We just planted our sylvester, it think it is a 7 footer and it was 700.00. They do sometimes get "roach" bugs but we had our lawn care people come and spray a few days after we put the new landscaping in because we heard that new landscaping, including the mulch, can bring in new bugs. The mulch brought in lot of little ants and they are now gone due to the treatment. I also bought Home Defense spray to spray the cracks in the pool lanai cement as the little creatures were marching up and down the cracks as well as the rain drain. They are now gone. Haven't seen any roaches net....thank God!!

[Bogie Shooter]

As above, don't know one from another. There are several at our new home. Should we sell or call in a back hoe? :loco: Hope this url works!

http://www.thevillages.com/homes/vls/vlsimages/211163_6.jpg

I would start by getting a bag of Palm fertilizer, follow the directions on the bag. Also, give them a drink when it gets dry.

[jimbo2012]

Smart Palm Fertilizing
Katherine Maidman, Former Curator of Palms

Here is a simple guide to effective maintenance feeding of your landscape palms. Product and application information are based on the latest recommendations from the University of Florida's Cooperative Extension Institute of Food and Agricultural Services, where research continues to fine tune palm growing in our South Florida conditions.

Do I need to fertilize all my landscape palms?

For the many palms affected by deficiencies in South Florida's nutrient poor soils, fertilizing is a necessity. While certain palms, native species for instance, can grow well in our landscapes with no fertilizing, all palms benefit rom regular maintenance feeding, which will show in their overall appearance and rate of growth. By keeping plants strong, fertilizing boosts their resistance to pest and disease problems.

What is a good program of �maintenance feeding�?

By maintenance feeding, we mean regular fertilizing of all your palms with a balanced, complete fertilizer to maintain health, and vigor. Done right, this can often prevent the common nutrient deficiencies of potassium (K), manganese (Mn), and magnesium (Mg), which take a lot of time and effort to correct once they cause symptoms. A widely recommended maintenance feeding program for your landscape palms is the use of a balanced, complete, granular fertilizer formulated for palms. Such fertilizers are widely called �Palm Special� fertilizers. There are a number of companies supplying these mixes in South Florida.

What do I look for in a palm special fertilizer?

The best palm special fertilizers have evolved in light of new recommendations from palm nutrition expert Dr. Timothy Broschat of the University of Florida. They have been improved based on extensive testing in the South Florida landscape. Here is what your fertilizer needs to be effective:

Look for formula 8-4-12 fertilizer, or as close to this nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) ratio as possible. In addition check for Magnesium. Total Magnesium (as Mg) should be close to or equal 4% when included in the 8-4-12 formula.
Both N and K should be in a 100% controlled release form. K deficiency is the most common palm nutrient deficiency in South Florida, due to the high solubility of this element and poor nutrient holding capacity of the soils. The higher level of K now recommended, along with the 100% controlled release form, can help prevent K deficiency. The controlled release form also helps prevent groundwater contamination from rapid leaching of K through our soils.
Micronutrients should be in sulfate form. The oxide form of some fertilizers use renders these nutrients unavailable in our alkaline soils. On the label, under �derived from� or �nutrient sources� look for: iron sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, or zinc sulfate.

Careful feeding brings out the beauty of palms.

How should palm special fertilizer be applied?

You should distribute fertilizer over the majority of the root system, which extends roughly from the trunk out to the edge of the canopy. Broadcast fertilizer as evenly as possible on the ground in this area. Think of it as an even sprinkling of salt. Any heaps, or the common ring of fertilizer around the palm, will burn and kill the roots directly beneath. Avoid getting fertilizer on the base of the stem, in the leaf bases or crown for the same reason.

When and how should I fertilize?

The useful life of most palm special fertilizers is two to three months. A suggested rate is three to four pounds per medium size adult palm every three months. Adjust this rate according to plant size. Fertilizer nutrients are released by irrigation water or rain; bear this in mind in your yearly schedule, as well as the fact that less is taken up by plants at the coldest time of the year. We recommend fertilizing in the following months: late March, June, September and late October. Try to fertilize at least three times a year.

[graciegirl]

Smart Palm Fertilizing
Katherine Maidman, Former Curator of Palms

Here is a simple guide to effective maintenance feeding of your landscape palms. Product and application information are based on the latest recommendations from the University of Florida's Cooperative Extension Institute of Food and Agricultural Services, where research continues to fine tune palm growing in our South Florida conditions.

Do I need to fertilize all my landscape palms?

For the many palms affected by deficiencies in South Florida's nutrient poor soils, fertilizing is a necessity. While certain palms, native species for instance, can grow well in our landscapes with no fertilizing, all palms benefit rom regular maintenance feeding, which will show in their overall appearance and rate of growth. By keeping plants strong, fertilizing boosts their resistance to pest and disease problems.

What is a good program of �maintenance feeding�?

By maintenance feeding, we mean regular fertilizing of all your palms with a balanced, complete fertilizer to maintain health, and vigor. Done right, this can often prevent the common nutrient deficiencies of potassium (K), manganese (Mn), and magnesium (Mg), which take a lot of time and effort to correct once they cause symptoms. A widely recommended maintenance feeding program for your landscape palms is the use of a balanced, complete, granular fertilizer formulated for palms. Such fertilizers are widely called �Palm Special� fertilizers. There are a number of companies supplying these mixes in South Florida.

What do I look for in a palm special fertilizer?

The best palm special fertilizers have evolved in light of new recommendations from palm nutrition expert Dr. Timothy Broschat of the University of Florida. They have been improved based on extensive testing in the South Florida landscape. Here is what your fertilizer needs to be effective:

Look for formula 8-4-12 fertilizer, or as close to this nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) ratio as possible. In addition check for Magnesium. Total Magnesium (as Mg) should be close to or equal 4% when included in the 8-4-12 formula.
Both N and K should be in a 100% controlled release form. K deficiency is the most common palm nutrient deficiency in South Florida, due to the high solubility of this element and poor nutrient holding capacity of the soils. The higher level of K now recommended, along with the 100% controlled release form, can help prevent K deficiency. The controlled release form also helps prevent groundwater contamination from rapid leaching of K through our soils.
Micronutrients should be in sulfate form. The oxide form of some fertilizers use renders these nutrients unavailable in our alkaline soils. On the label, under �derived from� or �nutrient sources� look for: iron sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, or zinc sulfate.

Careful feeding brings out the beauty of palms.

How should palm special fertilizer be applied?

You should distribute fertilizer over the majority of the root system, which extends roughly from the trunk out to the edge of the canopy. Broadcast fertilizer as evenly as possible on the ground in this area. Think of it as an even sprinkling of salt. Any heaps, or the common ring of fertilizer around the palm, will burn and kill the roots directly beneath. Avoid getting fertilizer on the base of the stem, in the leaf bases or crown for the same reason.

When and how should I fertilize?

The useful life of most palm special fertilizers is two to three months. A suggested rate is three to four pounds per medium size adult palm every three months. Adjust this rate according to plant size. Fertilizer nutrients are released by irrigation water or rain; bear this in mind in your yearly schedule, as well as the fact that less is taken up by plants at the coldest time of the year. We recommend fertilizing in the following months: late March, June, September and late October. Try to fertilize at least three times a year.

Got the kids and grandkids out on their own and now some more mouths to feed.;):jester:

[ajbrown]

I love, but would never again buy a robellini Palm.

From our experience they are much less cold tolerant that others. Our queens survived some tough winters since 2007, but our 3 legged robelli now just has one leg

:oops:

[Carla B]

The article that Jimbo quoted is right on, except the fertilizer formula used in this area is 8-2-12. The John Deere store on Hwy 301 sells it.

I'm getting to know a lot about Sylvester palms, since we have a sick one. It was planted a little over a year ago. I've learned that much of the soil south of 466 can be clay and that clay traps the water. It is as if you put a plant in a container that had no drainage hole. If you are thinking of planting an expensive palm it'd be well to get a soil test first.

[Joaniesmom]

Gee, thanks! We'll do that as soon as we get down there.

[tainsley]

I love, but would never again buy a robellini Palm.

From our experience they are much less cold tolerant that others. Our queens survived some tough winters since 2007, but our 3 legged robelli now just has one leg

:oops:

I have a robellini also that we love. In the winter months hubby puts a tent-like structure around it consisting of 4 stakes in the ground wrapped with plastic surrounding the robellini. It looks great...but can someone please tell me what is the best tool to use when trimming a Sylvester. The bark is so tough.

[graciegirl]

I have a robellini also that we love. In the winter months hubby puts a tent-like structure around it consisting of 4 stakes in the ground wrapped with plastic surrounding the robellini. It looks great...but can someone please tell me what is the best tool to use when trimming a Sylvester. The bark is so tough.

Is a Sylvester the one in Jimbo's original post? And when you trim them, you trim the bark? Please explain what and why on the bark that needs it. This is all very enlightening.

[Bogie Shooter]

Early thread with a lot of info on palms.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/palm-trees-9738/

[graciegirl]

Early thread with a lot of info on palms.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/palm-trees-9738/

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT LINK, Bogie.

Thank you. Much useful information. Particularly that you can buy Queen Palms much cheaper than I thought and they grow fast.

[jimbo2012]

Seeing the way retailers R around here I suspect going to Ocala or Orlando may be less expensive.

Can someone post the names of the local nurseries I would like visit when I get there.

[Bogie Shooter]

Seeing the way retailers R around here I suspect going to Ocala or Orlando may be less expensive.

Can someone post the names of the local nurseries I would like visit when I get there.

Not sure what you mean by "the way retailers R around here". Do the retailers in TV gouge you on price, service or what?

[duffysmom]

The landscaper at Fairfield told me about a palm called a Mule Palm. It's cold hardy and not unattractive. Queen plams are a waste of money, several have died in my neighborhood because of the recent cold Winters.

[jimbo2012]

Not sure what you mean by "the way retailers R around here". Do the retailers in TV gouge you on price, service or what?

Based on experiences posted here some (not all) do I think so, yes.

What's your opinion?

[Bogie Shooter]

Based on experiences posted here some (not all) do I think so, yes.

What's your opinion?

There's always a few bad apples in every basket.
Don't agree if one guy overcharges in TV that one should rush to Ocala to by landscaping.

[Carla B]

Here is a picture of our Sylvester. Fortunately, the Sumter county extension services here are very involved with the community. I signed up for a workshop on "managing your own yard" and am learning things that I wish I'd known prior to having the landscaping done.

(1) Don't put turf fertilizer under the canopy of the palm. Instead, use the 8-2-12 palm fertilizer on the grass and shrubs adjacent to the palm. I was told that in fact you can just use palm food on everything. The grass will love it and you won't be applying the wrong fertilizer to the palm.

(2) Be sure it is slow-release as is the "Lesco" fertilizer sold at John Deere. Apply at the rate of 1-1/2 lbs. per 100 sq. ft of canopy, three or four times per year from March to Sept. The palm roots grow horizontally and can extend out 50' from the trunk. Putting grass fertilizer on that space can be very detrimental to the palm.

As for GG's question about trimming, only one frond has fallen off in a year. My husband cut the bark to match the existing diamond cuts. It wasn't hard to do at all.

[TomSpasm]

JoaniesMom it looks like you have 2 curved Queen Palms which I think are very cool (no pun intended) if they survive the cold, and a Sylvester Palm in the background which will survive the cold.

duffysmom - FYI, a Mule Palm is a cross between a Queen and a Pindo Palm.

[graciegirl]

Based on experiences posted here some (not all) do I think so, yes.

What's your opinion?

There are a few of us who post on here that are almost always positive. We are frequently disbelieved by some. There are some people that if you read back on their posts they NEVER have anything positive to say and some nearly all of their posts are negative. The negative posts seem to get the most impact, in my view.

In my opinion, there is NO reason to leave town to buy landscaping. We are getting to be quite a big town ourselves. I was watching the travel channel and see that we are in fact bigger than Pisa, Italy. I wonder how we compare with Ocala in size now that we are approaching 100K. folks.

If you don't want to have a landscaper do it for you, buy it at Lowes or Home Depot and hire some hourly wage person to plant it for you or plant it yourself. I think you have to have arc approval.

Dropping plants in the ground is not all there is to it. Good landscapers are also usually excellent design people and the same principles are used for exterior design as interior. Just throwing things in the ground looks very amateurish, if you don't know what you are doin'. My view only of course.

[TomSpasm]

My favorite palm is the Phoenix Reclinata, but unfortunately they are not cold hardy enough to survive here in most locations. There are a couple around, Havana Country Club has one or two by the clubhouse and Lake Miona Rec Center has a big one near the entrance. Here's a couple pics of one I got for free (it was totally overgrown, hadn't been trimmed up at all, and the owner was going to pay someone to take it to the dump!) and paid a LOT to move it 4 miles to my yard in the St. Pete area. My neighbors couldn't believe it!

3211

3212

[jimbo2012]

In my opinion, there is NO reason to leave town to buy landscaping.

If you don't want to have a landscaper do it for you, buy it at Lowes or Home Depot and hire some hourly wage person to plant it for you or plant it yourself. I think you have to have arc approval.

Dropping plants in the ground is not all there is to it. Good landscapers are also usually excellent design people and the same principles are used for exterior design as interior. Just throwing things in the ground looks very amateurish, if you don't know what you are doin'. My view only of course.

Perhaps I wasn't clear, sorry, I was just looking to compare and shop, to spend/invest all this money on palms and other plantings I want to get a fair deal especially with several expensive palms.

I'm not interested in design services of a landscaper, I'll utilize a landscape architect I already lined up for that. :thumbup:

I'm not digging holes and planting, I may be a DIY guy but that's grunt work for younger backs. So I'll get quotes for installation from local landscapers to install most everything.

[graciegirl]

Perhaps I wasn't clear, sorry, I was just looking to compare and shop, to spend/invest all this money on palms and other plantings I want to get a fair deal especially with several expensive palms.

I'm not interested in design services of a landscaper, I'll utilize a landscape architect I already lined up for that. :thumbup:

I'm not digging holes and planting, I may be a DIY guy but that's grunt work for younger backs. So I'll get quotes for installation from local landscapers to install most everything.

Wow! A Landscape architect!
Also, Boy Howdy!

[jimbo2012]

Wow! A Landscape architect!
Also, Boy Howdy!

U betcha, here's why

A landscape designer aka/landscaper, typically has no formal education, no licensing, and no governing oversight, simply declaring themselves as a landscape designer. The typical landscape designer works for a landscape company that is offering reduced priced design with the promise of the installation project. This may seem like a deal to many, yet it may lead to overpriced plants being placed in inappropriate locations.
I have seen pics on this forum where palms that required full sun were planted in shade, that one mistake can pay the fee.
Additionally, landscape designers cannot sign and seal plans for permits.

A landscape architect, licensed in FL, can offer value by developing plans that are designed to a budget and can then be competitively bid.
In this way I can control the project.

The other factor is a landscaper has a vested interest in selling what's in his inventory.


Anyway back to palms that work and don't work at TV please.

[shcisamax]

In an effort to follow Gracie's fine example of online etiquette, I second "Boy Howdy".

[Bogie Shooter]

There are a few of us who post on here that are almost always positive. We are frequently disbelieved by some. There are some people that if you read back on their posts they NEVER have anything positive to say and some nearly all of their posts are negative. The negative posts seem to get the most impact, in my view.

In my opinion, there is NO reason to leave town to buy landscaping. We are getting to be quite a big town ourselves. I was watching the travel channel and see that we are in fact bigger than Pisa, Italy. I wonder how we compare with Ocala in size now that we are approaching 100K. folks.
If you don't want to have a landscaper do it for you, buy it at Lowes or Home Depot and hire some hourly wage person to plant it for you or plant it yourself. I think you have to have arc approval.

Dropping plants in the ground is not all there is to it. Good landscapers are also usually excellent design people and the same principles are used for exterior design as interior. Just throwing things in the ground looks very amateurish, if you don't know what you are doin'. My view only of course.

2012 Marion County 351,000
Ocala 51,000
Population - Ocala / Marion County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) (http://www.ocalaedc.org/community-at-a-glance/population)

[sunlover]

I did some research on the most popular palms trees in The Villages. I requested my landscaper to put in sabal palms. I didn't want them real tall. I like the look of a 10-12 ft sabal. They're not fast growing. I also had two mule palms put in. I love them!!!! They're not well know. They're a hybrid...a queen palm and pindo! Hardy and don't get as tall as the queen palm. Long flowing fronds....wider trunks.

[jimbo2012]

I also had two mule palms put in. I love them!!!!

Nice find, they can take 10 deg.
I see them at 6' for about $125, so they are reasonable too.

http://www.raintreetropical.com/nursery/Images_new/Mule_palm031.JPG

[Villages PL]

Back around 1970 I was living in another town about 1 hour south of where I live now in The Villages. I bought 4 palm trees from a plant nursery. The man who sold them to me said they would withstand freezing, down to about 20 degrees. So guess what? That year we had a hard freeze and the temperature went down to about 17. Luckily, they were small and didn't cost a lot of money.

It wasn't too long ago that we had a very hard freeze in The Villages. Was that 2 winters ago? I believe it was. Anyway, it was bad enough to damage several palm trees on my street and a few of them had to be cut down.

When I first moved to The Villages I bought a house with a palm tree in the front yard (my first house in TV). It was very tall which means it was old. Don't forget, trees, like people, have life spans. They don't live forever. So, within a about 2 years I had to cut it down because it was dying a slow death. It cost $400 to have it cut down and hualed off.

I like to see lots of palm trees in my neighborhood. I think they are attractive but I wouldn't want one in my yard. I like trees that are not so expensive to buy and maintain. And I like to be able to maintain them myself. Anything that gets tall is more expensive when you have to hire someone for trimming.

[batman911]

I have had 2 large shade trees on the West side of my home for more than 30 years. I get them trimmed professionally every 3rd year. Current costs is about $600. Because of these two trees, I have been able to live without air conditioning for that whole time. The cost of trimming trees can easily be recovered by the shade they provide in saving in electricity cost, not to mention I have enjoyed their beauty and the numerous birds that they attract who also make them their home.

[faithfulfrank]

The things I desire in a palm tree is
a) looks good and "Florida-like"
b) grows SLOW, and not too high
c) cold hardy.
d) not messy

I personally do not like the queen palms because they grow tall fast, had have seed pods that can fall and do damage. Too often they are planted too close to the home.

I have 3 Washingtonians that are getting too high for me to trim myself, although I have a 32' extension ladder just for that one reason.

I planted a pindo palm in my front yard last year. I really like that, cold hardy, pretty, and will not get too big.

Frank

[jimbo2012]

How about some more feed back

[graciegirl]

We have decided at this point anyway to not have any added landscaping. We have several palm type bushes throughout the landscaping that "came with the house". Quite frankly, we think our landscaping is really beautiful.

We have decided this for two reasons, Our home, The Seabrook, looks like a thirties bungelow from the midwest and it looks nice with the not over the top tropical landscaping and the second is that friends, three couples in our new village who have lived in Florida for quite some time said , no palms with this new house, they are too hard to maintain.

For many, palm trees are part and parcel of living in Florida, part of their dream and something they have looked forward to. We are all different in many ways.

[jimbo2012]

We would like to visit some nursery's when we are there, can anyone please recommend the good ones to browse?

[chappy]

We have been told the Sylvester Palm is a good choice and have included one in our landscaping.

[shcisamax]

is there any palm tree that you need to do NOTHING and it will be fine or do they all have NEEDS.

[jimbo2012]

from my research but no first hand experience, no

But the basic is a soil test and fertilizer several times a year are the basics.

[shcisamax]

OKAY... Is there an ornamental tree substantial enough to be planted in the front in place of the revered palm. And if you choose to do the pebble/stone look, how do you fertilize? Do you shovel the stones to one side, fertilize, shovel to the other fertilize, then put the stones back?

[jimbo2012]

If I can suggest, they are extremely helpful

PLANT CLINIC INFORMATION

Email - plantclinic@aol.com

Bushnell Location - 7620 SR471, Ste 2, 352-793-2728
Every Wednesday - 9 am until 3 pm
Every Friday - 9 am until 12 pm

The Villages Location - Sumter County Government Annex, 8033 CR466, 352-689-4673
Every Monday - 9 am until 3 pm

[shcisamax]

Thanks Jimbo. I will call or go to the office figure this out. I get jazzed up to get the landscaping done and then fizzle because I just really can't figure it out.