Which Palm Tree Care Mistakes Can Cause Diseases and Pests?

Palm trees are one of the best and most attractive trees that are very easy to grow and easier to kill if you don’t know how to take care of them. That means several mistakes so many homeowners make while taking care of it. So, if you are thinking of buying a palm tree or planning to plant one, then beware!

Common Name	Palm tree
Botanical Name	Arecaceae family
Family	Arecaceae
Plant Type	Woody perennial trees and shrubs
Mature Size	Varies by species; miniature to towering giants
Sun Exposure	Partial shade
Soil Type	Moist but well-drained
Soil pH	Neutral to acidic
Bloom Time	Year-round (rarely flower indoors)
Flower Color	Varies by species; often yellow, orange, green, pink
Hardiness Zones	7-11 (USDA)
Native Area	South America, the Caribbean, Asia, and more,

In short, most people make some common mistakes while taking care of palm trees. For example, a tree needs regular palm tree bugs treatment and  trimming or service from a professional company for its long-lasting life. But if you want to follow the do-it-yourself approach, ensure to have full knowledge about the trimming and all so that your tree will last. Below, we will discuss the top 5 palm tree care mistakes that can welcome pests and diseases. Let’s get started and take the best palm tree bugs treatment:

1. Improper palm pruning

If you talk about palm trimming, it is required for some species that are not self-cleaning palms, like Christmas Palms. Moreover, palms like coconut or date palms need trimming or removing dead fronds, which looks attractive.

However, the most common mistake most homeowners make is over-trimming the palm tree, which can cause the trunk to thin over time. This process makes the palm weak in a hurricane or high winds that can also break the tree.

Here the thing is, palms are not like tree palms which take nutrients from the lower fronds. However, when these nutrients are not available in the soil, they translocate to new growing fronds, because of which lower fronds die. When you remove the lower fronds, which are still alive, you are forcing the palm to move to the next lower healthy green frond that creates a cycle, and automatically the palm has nothing to take from.

In this process, if you don’t sterilize the pruning equipment between palms, it will transmit a disease to palms.

2. Providing not enough water

If you have planted a palm tree in your yard and are not providing enough water, the tips of the leaves will turn brown. However, it is also true that most of the palm trees like moist and well-drained soil.

So, in order to find out whether your palm tree is getting enough water or not, you have to check the most level of the soil the next day you water the tree.

3. Improper plant placement around palms

If you place various plants very close to the root zone and also the trunk can create several problems. The reason is palm trees need fertilization at high rates every 3 to 4 months, which can damage the plants.

Because of plants, the shrubs can also grow up and around the trunk, which can pose lethal issues for the palm tree. However, if you trim the shrubs, it can wound the palm tree’s trunk, which can never heal, and welcome disease pathogens into the palm via an open wound.

4. Not covering the young tree

If you have planted a new palm tree in your yard, make sure not to put it in an area that receives direct sunlight. However, if you cannot do this or don’t have much of an area, then ensure to cover the tree so that it can acclimate to receiving constant sunlight.

5. Improper palm fertilizing

Most palm trees planted in the USA are not native, which means they are from another part of the world because they don’t get the nutrients they need. Apart from that, the nitrogen value in the soil of the USA is very high, which can cause nitrogen poisoning in palms.

6. Planting the tree in the wrong climate

When you are thinking of planting a palm tree in your yard, make sure to check with the nursery to find out whether you are buying the right tree or not. The reason is different types of palm trees are grown in different climates, so find the one that suits you best according to your climate.

7. Mulch around the base of a tree

Are you aware that mulch should not touch the base of a palm tree? If not, you must ensure. However, make sure the mulch must be a foot away from the base of the palm tree trunk. The reason is if mulch touches the base of a trunk, it will develop browning, and sometimes it can also welcome fungus or disease.

So, if mulch is touching the base of a tree, please pull the mulch back in order to save a tree.

The bottom line

These are some common palm tree mistakes that can cause diseases and pests. So, if you have a palm tree avoid the above mistakes, and your tree has a better chance of lasting a long life while giving beauty and enjoyment. Moreover, if any of the diseases come across like bugs by chance, you can take the best palm tree bugs treatment.

I hope this blog is very helpful for you in making your palm tree alive for a long-lasting period.

About the Author:

Eric Kohler, marketing manager and strategist at Tree Doctor, focused on marketing, communications, events, and awareness of tree and plant health care needs. Whether you have a lawn, yard, or landscaping business, you need to take care of the unique needs of tree and plant species so that they remain healthy, vibrant, robust, and have constant growth.

Most people are unaware of the tree stressors and how to get rid of them. So, to throw light on potential tree dangers, treatment to control, and boost tree health to stand strong during unwanted weather conditions as well as attacks of diseases, insects, and pests, he passionately writes on tree healthcare, preservation, nutritive care, and treatment. Keep reading his recent articles to be familiar with tree and plant health problems, assessment, treatment, prevention, how to enhance tree and plant longevity, stabilize matured and sick trees in San Diego.