Get the most out of palms with these tips

Palms make significant contributions to our landscapes. Their luxuriant tropical appearance and stately silhouettes add much to our yards. They are very striking. At the same time, they are often misunderstood. People assume they are desert plants that don't need much water, but in their natural settings they are found near springs.

To get the most out of palms, plant them in groves, clumps, as singles, background plantings, near swimming pools or wherever you want to imply tropics. Larger palms provide shade, shelter and a dramatic feeling of space to create accents and silhouettes. Smaller specimens do well in crowded situations and remain effective for years. Unlike most plants, palms love heat and it is when they grow the most. Here are some simple rules for growing palms:

Planting: Plant palms anytime, but they do best when planted during warm weather. That's when they initiate new root growth, which allows time to establish themselves before winter sets in.

Palms must have well-drained soil. Nothing kills palms faster than poor drainage and roots that can't breathe. Dig the hole as deep and three to five times wider than the root ball. Plant palms so the root ball top is slightly below ground level so roots can get air. Form a berm out over the root ball to hold water to get a good soaking. Once in, water thoroughly every five to seven days. To encourage better establishment, fertilize lightly through the first growing season.

Tie leaves together over the crown to protect the bud during establishment. As new growth appears, untie the leaves. I use a piece of inner tube from a tire to tie up fronds. Sunlight breaks down the tubing so you don't have to climb the tree again to remove the tie.

Fertilizing: Feeding is important to keep palms healthy. A good palm fertilizer will have nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, iron, zinc and manganese in it. Spread half the recommended amount of fertilizer beyond the canopy and the remainder later this summer. Follow with a deep irrigation to move nutrients to the roots.

Pruning: Most people fall into two categories: They either remove too many fronds or not enough. People feel that they can do almost anything with palms and not damage them. But remember, as long as a frond is green, it is producing food to keep the palm healthy. If you remove fronds too soon over time, the trunk narrows and becomes weak and may topple.

In a natural setting, palms may hold dead fronds to give the tree a "hula skirt" look. This is OK and becomes a haven for birds. They also shade the trunk. But dead fronds can become a fire hazard if accidentally torched.

Many untrained "professional" gardeners will coax you into pruning palms in the fall. This is not recommended. Do it after the palms produce their flower stalks. Falling seed stalks can be dangerous and when they hit the ground, they spread seeds everywhere.

Use a sharp pruning saw and linoleum knife. Use a pole saw for trimming taller trees. When you climb your tree, always use gloves, goggles and head protection, along with a long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Fronds have sharp, stiff thorns that are extremely painful if you jab yourself.

For tall palms, hire a certified arborist who is licensed, insured and bonded. It is a risky thing to do yourself. Don't let the person use spiked shoes to climb palms. Spike scars become permanent and open trees to infection.

Skinning palms: It has become the standard. It doesn't do any harm to the tree. If you must remove the old leaf stalks, use a linoleum knife. Start from the base of the tree making horizontal cuts around the trunk about a quarter-inch deep. The broad paperlike stub comes off with a slight tug. Keep cutting, but a little higher each time. As you approach the growing point, stop when the underlying color becomes pinkish. You need to protect the growing point.

Lightning: It is looking for a place to contact earth and taller palms are most susceptible. Take comfort in the fact that if lightning strikes your palm, it won't fall down. However, once hit, the palm dies. A palm has only one growing point and it's under the tufted leaves in the trunk. Leaves stay green for a while, but the plant is dead so plan to take it out.

Linn Mills writes a garden column each Sunday. You can reach him at linn.mills@springspreserve.org or call him at 822-7754.