Are my coconut palms dying

[StPeteFlo]

So a few months ago the power company came by and gave all the trees near the power lines a bad hair cut and now I think my coconut trees are dying ... I've fertilize them early spring, just today I put down compost around the base. Help!

Edited May 27, 2021 by StPeteFlo
Forgot word

[kinzyjr]

@StPeteFlo

Have you had any rain over there?  Here, everything looks a little stressed if it isn't watered regularly.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Potassium deficiency, likely Magnesium deficiency, whitefly, and a severe case of powerline disease.  (Powerlines burn leaves)

 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Looks like that Coconut palm is doomed since the power company will keep chopping leaves that are near the power lines. As the palm gets taller, the trimming will be even more severe. Sad to see.  

[StPeteFlo]

15 hours ago, Jerry@TreeZoo said:

Potassium deficiency, likely Magnesium deficiency, whitefly, and a severe case of powerline disease.  (Powerlines burn leaves)

 

Thanks!

[Palmaceae]

Looks like powerline burn.

[StPeteFlo]

15 hours ago, kinzyjr said:

@StPeteFlo

Have you had any rain over there?  Here, everything looks a little stressed if it isn't watered regularly.

No rain yet since February. Yes the lawn also looks stressed over here after my neighbor thought she was helping out by scalping my St. Aug grass side yard we share. I've been out there in the mornings not on the sprinkler days trying to rehydrate the side lawn that was severely mowed. And on certain bad areas I've put down compost and spread it into the grass to help it green up. 

[sonoranfans]

Its not just low rain, its breezy and relatively low humidity(40-45%) while its in the high 80's.  When you combine this no rain, warmth, wind and low humidity with our sandy soils, lots of watering is needed.  This is the time of year where -if you didnt mulch to help trap moisture- you can get some serious setbacks in your palms.  Soon the rains will come and all the running around with the sprinkler will be over.  I am more of the mind that the almost constant breezes with low humity have been especially dessicating here.  I saw whole sun exposed areas of lawns brown in one day beginning to end of day.  These aren't the fameously dessicating So Cal santa anas for sure, but we have had them for 3 weeks and with the sand and low humidity it has has abeen a challenge to keep some palms happy. 

[Mike Evans]

That is not power line burn, or trimming, it is most likely a case of spiral whitefly underside of the leaves.  Take a closer look at the underside of leaves and google spiral whitefly.  I am fighting it on my coconuts right now.  Common problem with coconuts.

[Steve the palmreader]

21 minutes ago, Mike Evans said:

That is not power line burn, or trimming, it is most likely a case of spiral whitefly underside of the leaves.  Take a closer look at the underside of leaves and google spiral whitefly.  I am fighting it on my coconuts right now.  Common problem with coconuts.

Get the pressure washer out.

[Valhallalla]

Perhaps I am overlooking good reasons for doing so but I could never understand why anybody would plant a large palm like a Coconut directly below power lines. It happens all the time but the inevitable result is that the palm grows into the wires and then there are problems. I find it difficult to fault the power company for a "bad haircut" in cases like that. The underlying issue is an improperly planted palm not a malicious tree trimmer.

Anyway, one of the problems caused by planting in that way is Powerline Decline:

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP263

https://idtools.org/id/palms/symptoms/factsheet.php?name=Powerline+Decline

Powerline Decline

Symptoms

Leaves near high voltage overhead power lines often exhibit chlorotic or necrotic tips (Figures 26, 27, and 28). In severe cases, the entire crown may become chlorotic with necrotic leaf tips. Palm death is relatively rare, however.

Cause

Electromagnetic fields within 5 feet of a high voltage power line appear to cause injury to palm foliage. Leaves do not need to physically contact the wires for injury to occur and often occurs on the side of the palm opposite the wires as well as those nearest to the lines.

Occurrence

Powerline decline is common wherever palms are planted under overhead power lines. Most species appear to be susceptible.

Diagnostic Techniques

Visual symptoms on palms near overhead power lines are usually sufficient to diagnose this disorder.

Management

Avoid planting tall palms directly under or near overhead power lines. If a palm is growing directly under a power line, it should be removed.

Chlorotic/necrotic leaf tips look almost identical to the original photo.

 

[Reeverse]

I agree with power line decline. 

[Johnny Palmseed]

On 5/29/2021 at 7:35 AM, Mike Evans said:

That is not power line burn, or trimming, it is most likely a case of spiral whitefly underside of the leaves.  Take a closer look at the underside of leaves and google spiral whitefly.  I am fighting it on my coconuts right now.  Common problem with coconuts.

Is this possibly what’s going on with mine?

 

[redant]

On 5/28/2021 at 10:51 AM, Palmaceae said:

Looks like powerline burn.

exactly what it is.