Tree Care and Maintenance for Palm Trees
Palm trees are basically attractive and natural additions to your property and provide a tropical appeal to your home. Like any other trees and plants, palm trees need the right care and maintenance it deserves. For proper care and maintenance, you may have to hire professional arborist services in your area. In case that the palm tree falls down or gets diseased, it is also best to call tree removal companies for proper removal and disposal.
That said, proper maintenance and care is needed if you want your palm trees to grow in its best health and form. Learn more about this tropical tree, its different varieties, and how to take care of them. You can also find an arborist to know more about this wonderful tree and why there should be one in your property (especially if you live in a tropical area).
Varieties
It is said that there are more than 2,500 species of palm trees which are either tropical or subtropical varieties. In other words, palm trees thrive best in warm climate and tropical countries. On the other hand, most palm tree varieties cannot thrive in cold weather due to intolerance to frosts.
Palm trees vary in size, trunk appearance, structure and color of leaves, rate of growth, and tolerance to cold and hot weather. In other words, there are also types of palm trees that thrive in cold climate. This is contrary to popular belief that palm trees only exist in tropical areas.
As mentioned, there are thousands of palm tree variants that exist all over the world. These include popular ones such as Sabal Palm, Royal Palm, and Canary Island Date Palm. Other palm tree variants that exist include the following.
- Cabbage Palm
- Coconut Palm
- Chinese Fan Palm
- Bismark Palm
- Christmas Palm
- Washington Palm
- Yellow Butterfly Palm
- Windmill Palm
- And more!
As mentioned, some palm tree varieties thrive in warm climates. On the other hand, some palm tree variants including Chinese Fan Palms and Cabbage Palms survive cold temperatures of up to -9 degrees C. Regardless of the type of palm tree, it should be given the right care and treatment for it to thrive its best. Likewise, it is a good idea to hire tree services for your palm tree care and maintenance needs.
Factors required for optimum growth
Palm trees require the best care and maintenance to ensure its optimum growth. It needs the right amount of light, water, type of soil, temperature, and even the use of fertilizer so that it will grow in its best health and form. Here are some things you need to consider to ensure a palm tree’s optimum growth.
Amount of light
Most palm variants can tolerate shade and should avoid direct sun exposure as much as possible. There are also indoor palm plants you can grow and take care of. Then again, it depends on the palm variant that you have. If you are not sure, you can consult a professional arborist services near you.
Soil
Experts recommend using soil with alkaline or acid ground. In some cases, it may be better to use porous and loose soil mix. You can also buy a palm soil mix in gardening stores.
Temperature
As mentioned, palm trees may vary in climate tolerance. Some may tolerate temperatures as high as 95 degrees F and as chilly as 40 degrees F especially during night time. It is important to know which type of palm tree variant can tolerate such extreme temperatures.
Care and maintenance
By knowing the abovementioned requirements to ensure better palm tree health, the next step is to know the proper care and maintenance they need. Here are some tips to remember to care and maintain your palm trees.
- For the first six months, palm trees should be watered at least two times a week. Ensure that there is soil moisture as you water it.
- Use fertilizer on palm trees to ensure better growth. Experts recommend using IFAS 8-2-12 as the right type of fertilizer to be used for palm trees’ optimum growth.
- Remove yellowing or browning tree fronds. Pruning is also necessary, but make sure not to trim too much and too near the palm trunk. It can result in bark damage and can let insects and diseases destroy the tree further.
- Find an arborist for your palm tree and maintenance needs.
Grow a palm tree in your property
Palm trees are a great addition to your home regardless of where you live. But make sure to choose the right type of palm trees according to weather tolerance. More so, it is best to hire tree services in Chevy Chase for your tree care needs.