How To Plant A Palm Tree

[Phil]

At our nursery, it is very often required that I explain to people how to plant a palm tree. Most people in this group know how to do it. But, there are some factors which are poorly understood by many. And I've found that novists seldom have knowledge about acclimation, their soil, drainage and watering. Because of these things, I decided to write a more comprehensive article on the subject. I recently posted it at my Site. After reading Dave from So Cal's posting about clay soil, I thought I might share the link here. Of most interest to you might be the discussion of clay versus sandy soil and drainage. Here's the link:

Phil

How To Plant A Palm Tree

[Kris]

Dear Phil

very useful link and the explaination in that article is preety clear,even for novice like me to understand...

thanks & love,

Kris

[John Case]

Phil,

Have you considered building with adobe? That clay looks perfect!

[Phil]

John,

I wouldn't want to build anything with that clay. But, I think with a few years of amendments, the soil with be fertile, rich and drain well. If I had soil like this, I'd add shavings and sand to it twice a year. It's amazing how in time the amendments work into the soil and "disappear".

Phil

[_Keith]

Plant a palm tree - Really Simple

Plant a palm tree to live - Fairly Simple

Plant a palm tree to thrive - Faily Complex

Plant a palm tree to grow to perfection - Both an art and a science

[Jonathan]

Hi Phil,

thats a great website you've got there, wish I could buy my palms from you - but freight to Australia might be a little bit exy!

I was wondering if it would be rude to ask you for some advice on growing media, ie what sort of ingredients and ratio's and fertilizers you use in your nursery. Ive been making my own media with mixed success, but I'm far from confident about using it for some of the less common species that I seem (strangely!) to be accumulating.

There's heaps of info out there on the net, but its always conflicting and the opinion of a palm specialist nurseryman would be invaluable.

Cheers,

Jonathan

[Phil]

Jonathon,

Having grown palms for 32 years, I can state without reservation that there is no single "best potting soil" for all species and all areas. Years ago I wrote an article on potting soil and gave a formulae that we utilize. The link to it is below. There are several problems in talking about a potting soil:

1. Availability of ingredients varies from area to area and country to country. Many areas can't find fir shavings or pumice. That's what we have here. Some areas use byproducts of coconuts, macadamea shells, or whatever. You have to learn to utilize what you can get your hands on.

2. Drainage needs varies from area to area. In California, we don't get too much rain. If you are in Florida, a much quicker draining soil would be in order. That's why they tend to utilize a lot of peat moss there.

3. Species' needs vary. What's good for one may not be good for another. My soil mix does not work well for Guihaya. I have yet to find one that supports this species. Also, I have trouble with Latania in my soil.

4. You must be prepared to alter your universal soil to the needs of a particular species. For example, Dypsis decaryi and Bismarckia seem to like a lot more sand. I add extra sand if I can to our mix for these species.

5. Make sure your mix is open and drains well for new seedlings. Their little roots don't want much physical competition to penetrate the mix. For instance, if one utilizes pumice for new palm seedlings, sometimes the new roots can't penetrate the pumice and they just push themselves up into the air.

What I'd recommend you do is to contact an experienced grower in your area and ask him what works well for him.

Here's the link for my article. Be aware that we no longer utilize topsoil in our mix except for special circumstances.

Palm Potting Soil

Phil

[Jonathan]

Thanks a lot for that info Phil,

I had a feeling you might say something along those lines - horses for courses so to speak.

I've just found a landscaping place that stocks a wide range of barks, sand etc, so I'll keep working on it.

Printed out your Potting Soil for Palm Trees article and will study that too.

Contacting an experienced grower of palms in Tasmania is not gonna happen - cause there aint none!

But the big island isn't that far away...I hear they have a few palms in some place called Queensland!

Thanks again,

Jonathan

[simona]

Saved both links and I'll sure print them for study. Thanks for sharing!

[Phil]

Jonathon and Simona,

Thanks for the feedback. As mentioned, you have to utilize what's available to you. Most areas have for sale some type of organic shavings or mulch. For those who have real sandy soil, go heavy on the organics. For clay, use sand and organics. For decomposed granite, if drainage is good, go heavy on the organics. If your soil is absolutely perfect already, people will move to your neighborhood.

Phil

[spockvr6]

As mentioned, you have to utilize what's available to you.

This is what makes growing palms in my yard so simple!

When you have pure sand, you can hardly mess things up!

However, it really is amazing what will grow, and how well it will grow, in "soil" that really has no "soil" in it.

[DoomsDave]

Phil:

Thanks for your comprehensive article! In particular, you do a nice job of setting forth generalities, followed by exceptions, if any. I'm going to try some sand with my D. decaryi . . . .

I've bookmarked it to help others, and to remind myself when I get tempted to cut corners and stray from the path of englightened palm growing, and lighter soil.

I was a manager at a garden shop for a number of years in both Moreno Valley and Diamond Bar, both of which are infamous for nasty clay. Mo-Val was particularly tough because: (1) the weather was hotter; (2) the houses were, brand-new, smaller and closer together, which meant that clay was often packed very hard; and (3) many of the gardeners in Mo-Val were first time homeowners who never had a garden before and had NO CLUE at all about even tbe bare basics of plant growing.

(If anyone likes, I'll share the Tale of the Bare Root Roses and the Totally Novice Gardener, true, I swear! Oh, heavens . . . . .)

Look for my article for the local Palm Journal soon. . . .

[_Keith]

As mentioned, you have to utilize what's available to you.

This is what makes growing palms in my yard so simple!

When you have pure sand, you can hardly mess things up!

However, it really is amazing what will grow, and how well it will grow, in "soil" that really has no "soil" in it.

After seeing your garden, I have to say you have the magic touch, but I believe it is that reclaimed water that give you a helping hand.

[spockvr6]

As mentioned, you have to utilize what's available to you.

This is what makes growing palms in my yard so simple!

When you have pure sand, you can hardly mess things up!

However, it really is amazing what will grow, and how well it will grow, in "soil" that really has no "soil" in it.

After seeing your garden, I have to say you have the magic touch, but I believe it is that reclaimed water that give you a helping hand.

My novice thought is that it is just water in general....but the reclaimed sure is nice and cheap! I am thankful that I have small yard though as even with reclaimed water it can get expensive if one has very large areas to keep wet.

[Phil]

Larry and Dave,

Thanks for the comments.

In my article, I couldn't address everything. There are a few particularly interesting situations that I'd like to comment on.

1. Gardens that do have almost pure sand: I think you'll find gardens like this in Florida. The soil has essentially no "dirt". Such gardens have unbelievable drainage. Unfortunately, this sets up a situation where nutrition and microelements can wash on through the soil. "Dirt" slows down these things. So, if you have this situation, I'd push the organics to slow down drainage a bit and add (eventually) more nutrition. Or, if available, one could supplement with a little topsoil. I think if ever there were a place where slow release fertilizers with mirco's were most needed, it would be Florida.

2. Gardens where the soil is essentially ground up lava: Hawaii and other volcanic islands. This situation is similar to the sand one above. But, it can be even more challenging because drainage is more dramatic. One would follow the same principals. Adding dirt to the garden might be difficult because it may be difficult to obtain in these localities. So, utilize lots of organic material and mulch. Rain forest environments add this naturally by leaf matter dropping to the floor of the forest. In the garden, you must do it yourself most times.

Now, what about plain "dirt" to grow palms. I've seen many examples of wonderfully grown Dypsis decaryi and Howea in nothing but dirt in the container. In the greenhouse it can get quite "mucky". But, outdoors, if allowed to dry out, a very nice plant can be grown. And, it has more nutrition than a sterile mix for containers. In the garden it can be successful as well as long as you have drainage.

Phil

[spockvr6]

1. Gardens that do have almost pure sand: I think you'll find gardens like this in Florida. The soil has essentially no "dirt". Such gardens have unbelievable drainage. Unfortunately, this sets up a situation where nutrition and microelements can wash on through the soil. "Dirt" slows down these things. So, if you have this situation, I'd push the organics to slow down drainage a bit and add (eventually) more nutrition. Or, if available, one could supplement with a little topsoil. I think if ever there were a place where slow release fertilizers with mirco's were most needed, it would be Florida.

Yes....most gardens around here have this situation....pretty much pure sand for "soil". Drainage is for sure excellent. Ive had times where its rained 4-5" in a day, and by the next day, some areas are already bone dry again!

What I have been trying to do....and this takes alot of time to work....is heavily mulching. Many areas of my yard now have maybe 4-6" of fairly rich topsoil in them on top of the sand. Ive even seen earthworms in some areas! That might not sound thrilling, but they are not the norm around here. I dont know how many bags of mulch it has taken to get this 4-6" of decent soil...but its alot over about 8 years time. Of course,all the roots are down much deeper where its still sand. But over time things will improve. And, I think that some of the organics still make they way down through the sand to the roots.

Edited October 1, 2008 by spockvr6