Can anyone help with my Palm Tree?
 

I have tried several different things to keep my palm tree alive and healthy, but nothing I have done seems to help. Can anyone offer help? I want to save if at all possible!!

Photos Attached:

The photos have date of the photos to see the change in the tree:

1-26-13
1-26-15
6-26-15

I can't tell from the photos, but it's either bugs, fungus or fertilizer.
Bugs are not common on Sylvester Date Palms (that's what it looks like) and it's not been so wet for funger (though it could be - copper fungicide from Home Depot works great).
Last, you need to fertilize 3 or 4 times a year. Lesco 8-2-12 or Lutz spikes, both have mangesium and manganese, which these trees (and all palms) need.

Cut off any dead, it won't grow back. Best wishes.

We have found that the best thing for palms is...
 

a chain saw..... No bugs, No maintenance... It is a good thing!

contact the master gardener and get their advise, hope you can save your palm.

They will be glad to help.

UF/IFAS Sumter County Extension
The Villages Annex Office Address

8033 CR 466

Lady Lake, FL 32162

Phone

(352) 689-4668

Bogie Shooter,

Thanks for providing the contact info, I did not have it handy.

VT

Do you have weed fabric block around the base of this palm? We killed ours with weed block fabric, also killed a grapefruit with weed block fabric. Over several years the weed block becomes blocked with debris and nothing is able to get through to the roots of the tree. The University of Florida has written extensively on this problem. Apart from that, have no idea!

I have been in contact with UF/IFAS Sumter County Extension
The Villages Annex Office, no one came out but asked about fungus. Replied with photos and information. Have never heard back from them.

I use Lesco fertilizer, but from these post, I will do more frequently, only done 2X year.

Took fabric block and rock out over 3 years ago.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

I am going out to get more fertilizer and I have someone going to put in a drip line to the palm. Keeping fingers crossed all this will help.

Call them back and ask that Jim Davis come out and look at your tree. Be careful of putting too much fertilizer on.

Call Kanani Morris, he is a certified arborist in the villages 352-446-5043. Saved two palms for me. Company called Tree Frog

You have gotten lots of good advice.

In my experience, magnesium and manganese are imperative for the life of a palm tree.

Agree. We consulted him in 2012 about our one year-old Sylvester, that was suffering from malnutrition. We hadn't applied the Lesco as often as we should. Happy to say it is now huge. Jim Davis is also an expert on palms, too.

Had him out here two times and so far. :shrug:

Looks to me like the wall is built fairly close to the root ball. If the landscaper used limerock screenings as the base to support your stack wall, is affecting your soil severely. No matter how much Magnesium Manganese and Iron you put on the tree, it will not be able to use it.

Call Bobby at 352 303 8610 to look at the tree and he will check the pH of the soil, do a probe under the tree to see if there are air pockets and check a dozen other things in a matter of minutes and free of charge, and without messing up your landscape. The guy is amazing.