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Our Palm Tree Care Professionals Provide Specialized Care and Attention to Your Palm Trees and Tropical Plants
You have thousands of dollars invested in your yard and your palm trees. Just a single mature palm tree can cost several thousand dollars to replace. There is a fantastic diversity of palm trees throughout the Tampa Bay area. Our team of experts protect your palms from the many threats they face. Caring for all of these plants requires expertise in killing the insects and biological threats that endanger them. Keepers of the Green has been providing excellent tree and shrub care to Tampa residents for more than 25 years. We keep your palm trees green and thriving.
Common palm tree problems
Palm trees are a particular challenge for bay area home owners. They are diverse, vulnerable to native insects/parasites and they can cause serious damage to your home if they fall. We monitor all of the palm trees on your property and routinely inspect them for health risks. Insects pose some of the greatest threat to palm trees. Most of the insects that are threatening to your palm trees can be eliminated with early detection. A few of the specific threats to palm trees we watch out for include:
- Spiral Whitefly
- Rugose Spiraling Whitefly
- Gumbo Limbo Spiraling Whitefly
- Black sooty mold
- Pytoplasma diseases
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Yellowing
Preventing palm tree problems
Palm trees can get a specialized bacteria that is parasitic to palms which causes disease. They are transmitted through insects that act as their hosts. That is why our palm tree experts focus on preventative treatments to protect the beautiful palm trees throughout your landscape. These diseases are best prevented by treating your trees with an injection every few months to give your trees their best chance to avoid these problems.
Nutrient deficiencies are common in Florida Palm Trees
There are a number of possible nutrient deficiencies a palm tree can suffer from in Florida, including:
- Nitrogen – Nitrogen deficiency begins as a light green discoloration across the palm, primarily of the oldest leaves. As the deficiency progresses, young leaves will become affected. Leaves can become so light sometimes they border on white. When nitrogen deficiency is severe enough, the palm tree will stop growing, the canopy size becomes greatly reduced and the truck will taper like the point of a pencil.
- Magnesium – A magnesium deficiency appears on the oldest leaves as large yellow bands along the outside of the fronds, with the inner part of the frond maintaining a green color. Magnesium deficiency is very common in Florida and other tropical areas. Most types of palms are susceptible to magnesium deficiency to some degree. Magnesium deficiency in palm trees can be difficult to correct once symptoms are at an advanced stage. At Keepers of the Green, our Florida palm tree care professionals know how to combat all types of nutrient deficiencies, even the most difficult, getting your palm trees looking healthy, green and lush again.
- Iron – A palm tree with an iron deficiency exhibits interveinal or broad, uniform yellowing or discoloration of the youngest, newest leaves. Unlike other palm tree nutrient deficiencies, iron deficiency is not caused by the lack of nutrient in the soil, but is generally caused by poor soil aeration or by planting the palm too deep. These factors cause root respiration and ultimately, root rot, preventing uptake of iron from the soil into the palm tree.
- Manganese – A manganese deficiency results in the tell-tale “frizzled” appearance of leaves. As the deficiency progresses, new growth appears wilted and withered, or frizzletop.
- Boron – Boron deficiency causes a wide range of symptoms in suffering palm trees, both on new and older leaves. A common symptom is translucent streaking on the leaves, with sharply bent leaf tips, called hookleaf. Often, the hooks will drop off the tree. Another common symptom of a boron deficiency is the failure of new spear leaves to open normally. Instead, they appear to be tightly fused together throughout the entire length of the frond. Other times, in advanced boron deficiency stages, leaves emerge significantly smaller and crumpled like corrugated cardboard, called accordion leaf. The most unusual symptom of a chronic boron deficiency in palm trees is when the entire crown of the tree bends in one direction. Boron deficiency is a widespread problem for palm trees in wet climates throughout the world. For some time it was considered rather uncommon in Florida, however that is no longer the case. Boron deficiency is now a widespread and serious problem for landscape palm trees throughout Florida. Exceptionally high rainfall is thought to be the reason.
- Potassium – Symptoms of a potassium deficiency vary among species of palm trees, but always first appear on the oldest leaves of the tree as mottled yellowish brown spots that appear translucent when viewed from below. As the deficiency worsens, browning or deadening of the lead tips occurs.
Maintain the majestic beauty of your palm trees with Keepers of the Green
Palm trees require specialized treatments to keep them doing well. Our family-owned company, Keepers of the Green, has been doing that for more than 25 years. We offer free detailed assessments to give you a demonstration of the services we are going to provide. Call us at 813-884-4255 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.