Elements your palms need to stay healthy

Applied in correct combination; magnesium, iron, and manganese will keep fronds from yellowing or curling. How much and when depends on where you live.

Here in East Texas, a bag of 8-8-8 is sufficient in keeping your palms healthy and happy!

Steps to establishing a new palm:

1. Water plays huge role in establishing a new palm. Water every day for 45 days until the risk of transplant shock has passed.
2. Apply the fertilizer away from the base of the palm, staying around 18″ away from the base. Banding fertilizer around the base of the palm tree is considered a poor practice because it can damage the roots.
3. Wait about 4 to 6 weeks after planting to fertilize.

Fertilizing palms DO’s:

• Thoroughly read the directions on the fertilizer bag.
• Water BEFORE AND AFTER fertilizing, especially when using a quick release material. Under-fertilize rather than over-fertilize.
• Under-fertilized plants just don’t grow as fast; over-fertilize them and they may die. Pick a fertilizer with an approximate NPK ratio (like an 8-8-8).
• An ideal palm fertilizer has the right mix of microelements, magnesium and calcium.
• Fertilize your palm trees three times a year: spring, summer, and fall.
• You can also augment with organic fertilizers such as blood meal, bone meal, fish emulsion, and worm castings.
• Fertilize completely around the plant, distributing the granules over the entire root distribution area (approximately the size covered by the mid-day shadow of the plant).
• Work fertilizer into the soil if possible.
• Rake the garden of debris, apply their fertilizer, and finish with a top dressing.
• Soil test for salt content, especially in container plants. Inexpensive pronged meters easily tell you when you have problems.
• Keep turf well away from your palm trees. This will make it easier to fertilize your palms and will help keep diseases away from your palm.

 Fertilizing palms DON’Ts:

• DON’T fertilize on dry soil, as it can lead to plant burn and death.
• DON’T over-fertilize as this can lead to plant injury.
• DON’T Throw granular fertilizer down the crown of the plant.
• DON’T Throw all the fertilizer in one pile at the base of the plant. Scatter it.
• DON’T Throw the fertilizer against the trunk of the plant in a big pile as this can lead to necrosis or scaring of the trunk.
• DON’T Use the cheapest, highest concentration quick release fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate 30:0:0 (lawn fertilizer), as this can lead to plant burn or injury.
• DON’T Put fertilizer directly in contact with the roots when repotting a container plant, especially if using a quick release fertilizer.
• DON’T Put manure into the hole when planting a palm. Too often the generated heat and solute concentration are damaging to the palms roots.
• DON’T allow rain to fall on your stored bags of fertilizer as this may solidify the granules or leach out the fertilizer. Protect the bags with a tarp.