Landscaping Corner - Canary Island Date Palm Tree Care and Maintenance by Ernie MacLeod, resident

Homeowners are responsible for the care and maintenance of the Canary Island Date Palm(s) in the common grass between the roadway and sidewalk in front of their home. This includes edging around the palm, weeding the mulch bed, fertilizing, pruning fronds, and proper disposal of fronds after pruning. Homeowners are responsible for their replacement should they die. These trees add value and complement the landscaping around your home and throughout the development. 

Following the simple steps below will result in a healthy, beautiful palm that adds to your landscape.

New Transplants:

• Do not untie palms after they have been transplanted. Wait for 10-12 weeks before untying. This protects the new growth at the crown of the tree and minimizes damage to new roots from tree movement due to wind.
• Water transplanted palm trees daily for the first two weeks, then gradually taper-off over several months. In addition, spray fronds with water occasionally.
• Do not prune fronds for the first 6-8 months after being transplanted.

Established Plants:

• Palms are not true trees and cannot repair damage to their trunks. Cuts in the ‘bark’ will invite insects and disease.
• Do not over fertilize palms. Less is better; too much fertilizer will kill palms. Fertilize biannually in April/May and October/November. One to one and a half cups of a time-release fertilizer formulated for palms is sufficient.
• Blood meal, bone meal, fish emulsion, and cow manure are good for palms. However, avoid placing directly on roots. Use magnesium sulfate if new fronds start to become pale green or yellow. Potassium is also good for palms and can be used at the same intervals as magnesium to avoid a potassium deficiency. Time-release tree spikes can be ordered online. When using any of the above, do not add any fertilizer to the palm for 6-8 weeks.
• When pruning fronds, only prune fronds that are brown or are completely yellow and browning. The more fronds left on the tree the better. Prune only the lowest fronds. On trees with short trunks, prune fronds that hang down toward the roadway and sidewalk part way. Also, prune spikes on the lowest fronds to avoid injury to children. Do not prune too close to the trunk. Annual shaving of the palm tree trunk is not necessary.