Q. My palm trees in the back yard seem to have a problem with the trunk next to the ground.  Not sure what is wrong, too much water, bugs, I need help.  These are large palm trees and I would not like to lose them.  I have attached some photos.  I have four large palm trees with this problem. A. This is typically not a problem for palms because there biology is different from most other trees. Because palms are monocots a lot of this so-called wood from the outside can slough off without much of a problem. In fact what you are seeing is fairly common. Make sure when you irrigate these plants that you keep the water away from the trunk and do not water them daily. I would be watering them about 2 to 3 feet from the trunk, not up close to the trunk. These should be watered like any other nondesert tree.