Q.
I
understood that sago palms liked afternoon shade. Can this plant handle afternoon sun with
reflected heat and rock mulch?
I
understood that sago palms liked afternoon shade. Can this plant handle afternoon sun with
reflected heat and rock mulch?
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| Sago palm or cycad in planter in desert landscape |
A.
Sago palm or cycads will perform better with less care if they are planted in eastern
or northern exposures rather than southern or western exposures. They will
survive in your spot but will not look their best.
Sago palm or cycads will perform better with less care if they are planted in eastern
or northern exposures rather than southern or western exposures. They will
survive in your spot but will not look their best.
They
will grow in full sun and under some very tough desert conditions if the soil
is improved, they are receiving the right kind of irrigation and fertilizer and
surrounded by wood mulch.
will grow in full sun and under some very tough desert conditions if the soil
is improved, they are receiving the right kind of irrigation and fertilizer and
surrounded by wood mulch.
.JPG) |
| Sago palm growing in partial shade in the desert |
When
grown under these very harsh conditions they usually grow shorter fronds, the
fronds are frequently discolored with a yellowish or bronze appearance and the
fronds may even scorch or burn at the tips.
grown under these very harsh conditions they usually grow shorter fronds, the
fronds are frequently discolored with a yellowish or bronze appearance and the
fronds may even scorch or burn at the tips.
When
these plants are grown in more protective environments they look much better
with more succulent growth, longer fronds, darker green with a lot less care.
It would be incorrect to say they will not grow under some very harsh
conditions but they will perform better and with less management in less
hostile environments.
these plants are grown in more protective environments they look much better
with more succulent growth, longer fronds, darker green with a lot less care.
It would be incorrect to say they will not grow under some very harsh
conditions but they will perform better and with less management in less
hostile environments.
Will
it survive with rock mulch in an intense desert environment? Sometimes. But it
will not have a long life expectancy and not look as pretty. Under rock mulch
conditions with very little soil improvement I would give them 5 to 10 years looking
okay after they were planted.
it survive with rock mulch in an intense desert environment? Sometimes. But it
will not have a long life expectancy and not look as pretty. Under rock mulch
conditions with very little soil improvement I would give them 5 to 10 years looking
okay after they were planted.