Talk of The Villages Florida - What's with the palm trees??

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)

- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - What's with the palm trees?? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/whats-palm-trees-116336/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vladimir (Post 885851)

Noticed a lot of brown, rust, yellow and dying palm trees on peoples properties south of RT 466A. I know that taking care of palm trees and making sure that they are healthy and grow is rather difficult but...if you spend around $500 or so to plant a large palm tree and see that happen would make me quite upset. Nice healthy palms make our place beautiful. Is it the watering, the fertilier used, the Villages soil, lousy palm in the first place? Who knows - just saying.

First I would like to know where you can buy a large , healthy palm tree for $500 or so. A large healthy palm is going to cost well over $500. So the problem may be who / where they purchased the palms

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandB (Post 886825)

The biggest problem the Palm trees are experiencing is the drought. The trees need a lot of water which they are not getting. If you have Palms that are yellowing you might want to supplement your irragation system. I found our trees came back quickly once I started using the hose daily.

I agree. Many in the newer neighborhoods look bad. When first transplanted they go thru a bit of shock. The need A LOT of water in the first year. Once the fronds turn yellow, they will not green up again but the rest of the tree will stop turning yellow.
Proper fertilizer and adaquate water are very important.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SandB (Post 886825)

Actually palms only require a lot of water when newly planted, once established they don't require much water. Think of the palms growing in the desert or even on a beach. Over watering is not good for a palm

Quote:

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist (Post 885859)

To really find out, take a picture of the palm and history of how it's watered and fed to the UF extension ofc plant clinic at the 466 Annex Monday and Thurs. 9 to 12 and 1 to 3.

My amateur guess is a nutrient deficiency. IFAS sites say an 8-2-12 fertilizer is best,

Here's a common deficiency that causes yellowing...magnesium.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep266

I was at the UF plant clinic today and confirmed that the above is the most likely cause and fertilizer cure for palm yellowing. Epsom salts are less effective because that's on one nutrient and it quickly leaches. Lesco 8-2-12 plus 4 fertilizer is slow release, contains micronutrients and is also quite fine for turf. Other brands of 8-2-12 are available at big box stores.

Lesco is available at John Deere Landscape supply, Leesburg or from Fertilizer Direct, who will bring the fertilizer to your door, as cheaply as it's available retail, so I'm told. Big box stores have similar but not equal formulations of fertilizers. Palms are slow growers and slow responders to intervention. It may take up to a year to fully recover.

According to Master Gardeners, under watering of established palms is not likely the cause of yellowing where irrigation and/or rain are regular.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blyarbrough (Post 885863)

The soil in my area is very poor....mostly sand and clay......1% top soil. The little rain we got today just ran off into the storm drains......nothing to hold the water.

That is pretty much the condition in most of FL.

A lot of Northerners spend a lot of money trying to have that lush lawn and lush vegetation.

Just keep in mind we are all trying to get grass and plant to grow on a sand dune.....most of what is sold is for initial eye appeal with little regard for what is and is not local to the area.

Minimize the grass and maximize the local native plants.