Grow
Palms
With the tropical look taking over gardens (even in less-than-tropical climates) palms have come right into vogue. These leafy plants, with their upright growth, fit perfectly into tropical gardens. They’ll also blend into other garden styles and, best of all, they’re relatively easy to grow and care for.
Growing palms
Palms are unfussy, but most need good drainage. If there’s any doubt about drainage, keep the palm in a container. Palms usually have a limited (though dense) root system, so they do well in pots. Yates Tuscan pots are available up to 500mm size, which gives larger palms plenty of room for growth. Make sure you choose a good quality potting mix – Thrive Premium Mix is ideal.
For in-ground planting, start by digging in some quality organic matter (such as good compost). Add an organic fertiliser (e.g. Dynamic Lifter pellets) and mix well so there’s no definite break between the improved soil and the original.
Because of their non-branching root system, palms can be transplanted quite readily but a large palm will need to be staked and supported while it’s re-establishing in its new position.
Fertilising palms
Palms are relatively slow growers so it’s important not to overfeed them. Ideally, look for a fertiliser that’s recommended for feeding palms. There’s a Nutricote controlled release plant food called Subtropical Fern and Palm that has a good nutrient balance and, because of its special coating, will continue feeding for up to six months. Yates Blood and Bone, Dynamic Lifter pellets or Garden Gold for Natives are other good options.
Palm pests and diseases
Scales are some of the worst pests to attack palms and they’re also some of the most difficult to treat. Palms are easily damaged by white oil (the standard treatment for scale) but, fortunately, Confidor will give good control of most types of palm scales. Some scales may need to be physically removed by scrubbing gently with an old toothbrush and soap. Confidor is also the best remedy for mealy bug, the sap-sucking pest that often attacks palms growing under cover or indoors.
Orange palm dart is a caterpillar that can eat whole sections of palm leaves during the warmer months. The grub wraps the leaf blade around itself and then begins eating the leaves that are forming its hiding place. Keep a close watch out for this pest and remove it by hand or by spraying with pyrethrum.
Mites, tiny, almost invisible sap suckers, cause the leaves to turn silvery. They’re most likely to attack indoor palms or those growing in dry situations. Treat mites with low toxic Natrasoap, the organic miticide from Yates.
Favourite palms
Kentia palms, originally from Lord Howe Island, are popular all round the world because of their slim good looks and their ability to flourish indoors. They’ll grow well outdoors but usually look better in a shady spot.
Golden Cane palm is a multi-stemmed variety that forms a clump topped with feathery, pale, yellow-green leaves.
Rhapis palm is a slow growing, low growing variety that makes an excellent container plant for indoors or out.
Cabbage palm (pictured) is a tall-growing Australian native palm that is very hardy. It can cope with damp or dry conditions and tolerates light frosts.
Comments (11)
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This area is for general comments from the Yates Garden Club community. Questions posted here will not receive a reply from Yates. For specific gardening advice visit Ask an Expert
Neil
Yates site member
10:11, 19 October 2009
I have a large palm tree in my back yard that has only been trimmed up using a chainsaw over the last 20 years or so. None of the fronds have been left to fall off naturally or been pulled off when they have died. This has left a lot of rotten frond ends against the trunk, my question is...what should I do now? I started working on it at the weekend (removing the recent dead fronds), but notided that there seems to be a lot of rot in the lower frond ends. Should I try to clear all the older cut ends away from the trunk or is it better to leave them as it is?
Janet
Yates site member
07:31, 26 November 2009
something is making large holes the trunks of our palm trees. Cant see any insects in the holes, though. Any ideas?
chad
Yates site member
13:41, 25 January 2010
how do i germinate kentia seeds
Fay
Yates site member
11:14, 14 February 2010
I have a palm, I believe is called cardboard palm, which is very well established, but I would like to transplant it. Is this possible please?
Janna
Yates site member
19:08, 05 March 2010
We have 4 large Golden Cane Palms in our courtyard... tallest is 3 metres shortest 2 metres. I am wondering about the root clumps as our storm water drain passes under all four. Are the roots large enough and strong enough to do damage to the pipe?
Tamara
Yates site member
08:18, 25 April 2010
When you purchase a golden can palm from a nursery how many seedlings have been used to make that one palm? Just one seed or half a dozen?
Anne
Yates site member
12:27, 06 May 2010
Some of my large golden cane palms have leaves that, when shooting, are brown and withered. It has been going on for about 9 months. Very unsightly, but I am worried that some clumps may be dying? Other golden canes are fine...(I have about 8). Would love to know if it is a disease, or a pest, and what I can do. Many thanks.
Trudy
Yates site member
10:27, 02 June 2010
I have a 2 Foxtail Palms at the entrance of my home & one of them is doing very poorly it is shooting new leaves but as they get bigger they end up dying. I can't see any pests so I'm at a loss as to what is going wrong
Mike
Yates site member
20:23, 03 February 2011
Hi, I have a large clump of golden cane palms approx 2 metres tall which are very close to my fence,is it possible to divide these palms before they damage the fence. Mike.
Elizabeth
Yates site member
17:45, 24 August 2011
Hi, I have a couple of kentia palms about 18ft and some bangalo palms next to our limestone retaining wall which is about 7" tall. it looks like the wall is moving a bit, can you tell me what their root system is like and also do you know of anyone that transplant as each Kentia is about $1500 worth, it would be so sad to chop them down.
Milosh
Yates site member
11:34, 06 February 2012
I have a good size golden cane palm that I want to relocate a few metres away from where it is presently growing. Is it possible ? what time of the year is best, do I need to trim the frongs and stems so it is easier to move? Watering and fertilising ect ect.Can you give me directions please. Milosh Woorim Bribie Island Qld
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