Landscape Maintenance and Tips for Avoiding Water Damage for Palm Trees

Caring for palm trees in Arizona, Nevada, and California can be tricky business, but if done properly, it is all the more rewarding. While water is an essential component to the longevity and well-being of a palm tree, it can also be detrimental to the health of the tree if not done with care. Therefore, landscape maintenance for these tropical beauties is all the more important, and it is imperative we educate ourselves on how to adequately care for them, especially when it comes to water damage.

The variable climate in states such as Arizona, Nevada, and California is a huge factor, largely because of the lack of natural precipitation that palm trees thrive off of in most climates. Without the assistance of regular rainfall, it falls on the hands of landscaping services to ensure palms are receiving the correct amount of water. Depending on the type of palm, too little water can be devastating to the tree’s survival, yet too much water is perhaps more common and can cause irreversible damage.

The Danger of Water Damage for Palm Trees

• An excess of water may cause nutrient deficiencies in palm trees
• Overwatering can expose the tree to rot diseases
• Too much water may lead to discoloration and cause the canopy of the tree to wilt
• In extreme cases, palm tree leaves may turn brown or yellow and fall off if they are receiving too much water
• Palm trees that are receiving too much water may start to lose their healthy leaves
• Susceptible to rotting when over watered, a foul odor is another sign as the roots start to deteriorate and turn soft

Tips for Proper Palm Tree Care

Properly caring for palm trees and ensuring they receive the appropriate amount of water from the time they are planted is imperative to their survival and must be done attentively.

• After a tree has been planted, it should be watered daily for the first two weeks until the root system is established
• Palm trees should receive four to five gallons of water every day at the beginning
• It is important that the soil is wet, but not soggy, as too much water can cause permanent damage
• Once the tree is established, watering may be decreased to twice a month or less, depending on the type of palm and time of year
• It is important to water trees from the bottom up, as watering from the top down may cause rotting
• Planting the tree in soil that has good drainage will also help to ward off over saturation due to an excess amount of water
• It may be useful to add sand to the soil mixture to help with drainage
• Another useful tip is to place mulch around the base of the tree (but not against the trunk) to help with water retention and to aid in the keeping the soil cooler

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