Xtremehorticulture

Canary Island Date Palm Problems

Q. I have a Canary Date Palm that developed yellowing leaves last year. I planted this palm about 10 years ago in my landscape. Canary Island Date Palm A. The proper name is Canary Island Date Palm. Eliminate simple possibilities first.  Water and drainage Make sure whatever method you are using to irrigate the tree has not changed because of a broken irrigation line or malfunctioning irrigation emitters. Check the soil around the tree to make sure it’s not still wet before it is irrigated the next time. The soil at four or 5 inches deep should still be starting to dry when you water again. Watering cycles of palms is similar to other large trees on your property and not to other locations like lawns, flowerbeds that require frequent irrigation. Watering palm trees as frequently as you would these locations would be a mistake. Fertilize with a palm fertilizer Palm nutrient deficiencies such as potassium, magnesium or manganese deficiencies can cause yellowing as well. Use a palm tree fertilizer such as Arizona’s Best the next time this palm tree is fertilized. Disease Possibilities There are a couple of disease possibilities that have not yet, to my knowledge, been diagnosed in southern Nevada. Three palm diseases have been noted in Southern California on this Palm. The only disease which causes fronds to yellow on Canary Island Date Palm is Fusarium Wilt. This disease can be spread from tree to tree through pruning tools. Wiping or spraying the cutting blades of pruning tools with at least 70 – 90 % isopropyl alcohol will effectively keep the disease from being spread due to a lack of sanitation to other palms. Anyone pruning these palms should never use dirty tools. Tools should be cleaned with soap and water first and then sanitized before pruning begins.

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Select the Right Plants to Grow With Palms

Q.  I have had this palm for 10 years. Every time I add additional water with a hose or bucket I lose more fronds. Every year I cut higher on the palm to get rid of dead fronds. I drove a metal stake down 18 inches but did not pick up any visible moisture in 3 different places.  Any ideas on how I can go about this from a more scientific method? Canary Island date palm with aptenia planted at its base A. I did not see a whole lot wrong with your palm in the picture you sent to me. It is pretty normal for the fronds to begin to brown out and start to die once they drop below horizontal.             In our climate it is also pretty common to have some tip burn on the leaves along the fronds, particularly as they get older and drop close or below horizontal.             I did notice you have Aptenia, hearts and flowers, growing at the base of the palm. This plant is not complementary to a palm that has deeper roots. Aptenia has shallow roots so it is watered frequently with a small amount of water. Palms must be watered more deeply and less often.             If you are going to plant something at the base of a palm, plant something with deeper roots that has a similar watering requirement. Replant at the base of the palm with something more deep-rooted that can give you some color.             Select a woody perennial that give you season-long color in that spot or an evergreen with a deep root and a similar requirement for water.

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