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.

Full sun

Regular watering

Well drained

Suited to all climates (check variety)

How to Grow Palms in a Garden

Choose a sunny spot with well drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.
Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.
Mulch around the base with organic mulch, like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
Feed in Autumn and Spring with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser to ensure strong root development.

How to Grow a Palm in a Pot

Pick a variety that can be grown as a standard in a pot. Choose a pot at least 600 mm wide and deep. Position in full sun.
Fill chosen pot with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
Feed in Autumn and Spring with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser to ensure strong root development.
Can be put into a larger pot only when the previous one is filled to capacity with roots.
Do not stand potted palms in a tray of water, because most varieties of palms loathe wet feet. To increase humidity around the palm, fill a shallow tray with pebbles and almost cover with water. Then stand the potted palm on top of the pebbles. Good indirect light is necessary for healthy growth.

Palm Varieties

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 is a tall-growing Australian native palm that is very hardy. It can cope with damp or dry conditions and tolerates light frosts.Many palms are suitable indoor plants, if given the correct growing conditions.

Growing Tips

Palms don’t like low humidity, so rooms with heaters or air-conditioners are not suitable.
If the air is too dry, leaf tips will brown off. Draughts, too, are damaging.
Mist spraying the foliage several times a day when the weather is dry and hot, helps prevent lasting damage.
For indoor palms, wipe fronds regularly to remove dust. Use commercial leaf wipes, or a weak solution of soap in water.

Common Pests of Palms

Mealybugs and Scale Insects are common pests on palms. They’re often hiding in the leaf axils or on the undersides of the foliage. Treat Mealybugs with Yates Baythroid Advanced Garden Pest Insect Killer Ready to Use Spray. Palms can be sensitive to sprays, so it’s best to test on a small area and wait for a few days to see if there are any adverse reactions. If no adverse reactions are seen (e.g., falling or yellowing leaves), then you can continue with a more widespread application. For Scale Insect control, you will need to apply an oil-based product, like Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray. Please test on a small area first before applying to the rest of the plant.