vPalms
for Dallas Gardens 
By Tony Cerbone
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Sabal minor is native to Dallas County
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Other palms Native to Texas- Sabal mexicana and
Brazoria county sabal
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Palms that do well in Dallas (varieties)
o Sun-
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Sabal mexicana (texana)
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Washingtonia filifera, and not to use W. robusta,
how to tell difference
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Brahea armata
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Butia capitata
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Chamaerops humilis- several varieties
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Sabal palmetto
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Sabal louisiana
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Jubea chilensis
o Shade/part
shade
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Sabal minor
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Brazoria county or Sabal X texensis
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Trachycarpus fortunei-afternoon shade
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Rhapidiophyllum hystrix- Needle Palm (The most
cold hardy)
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Chamaedora radicalis and microspadix
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Installation & Cultivation
o Plant
at ground level- after soil warms in mid- April through November for bare
rooted
o September
planting for potted seedlings or container grown transplants- after summer's
heat and during fall's rainy season.
o Mulch
o Wrap
during cold spell… less than 15°F for first two winters
o Siting:
walls, and fences enhance your microclimate. Keep out of wind, and low spots
where cold accumulates
o Water
at roots not foliage- prevent Phytophora
o Provide
good drainage
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Fertilizer-
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Black soils: ph 7-8 just add sulphur
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Black and white: more sulphur, organic matter
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White limestone: bring in topsoil
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Add mulch and organic matter.
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For palms that you bare root install, don't dig a
$5.00 hole for a $50 palm. If you buy an expensive bare root palm prepare the
hole by digging it larger than the root ball and ensuring good drainage and
organic matter.
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Don't love your palms to death by over fertilizing!
We have innately fertile soils at one time rated among the most fertile in the
US by the USDA.
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Over fertilizing with nitrogen, in our clay soils
can cause micronutrient imbalances. Resulting in Manganese and K deficiencies
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Manganese
deficiency… Frizzle top and purple color only in New growth. New leaves that emerge are chlorotic,
weak, reduced in size, scorched, withered and frizzled. Avoid hot organic
fertilizers like chicken manure etc in higher ph soils. If many other plants in
your garden are chlorotic you have a higher ph soil. Most soils in the Dallas
are between 7-8 ph. Since Manganese is a micronutrient it appears in the new
leaves first. It is caused by its insolubility in high ph soils. Also, cold
soil temps in winter and spring reduce root activity and especially the uptake
of Mn.
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K
or Potassium deficiency- since K is a macronutrient its symptoms
occur on older leaves first. When older leaves die at alarming rate and new bud
is green and tight, reduce application of nitrogen in wet clay soils. Usually
it begins with the appearance of translucent yellow or orange spots. These
usually become necrotic spots. Usually the leaf becomes withered. The K is
usually translocated from the older leaves, causing the symptoms and moved to
the new growth. Once all the K has been remove from the old leaves and they die
off, the palm begins to decline. In Dallas, this often occurs by excessive
Nitrogen fertilization. Using lawn fertilizer high in N, dumped at the base of
a palm with the intention of creating fast growth. Instead K symptoms begin and
can lead to death. Supply SulPoMag to lower the ph and not create a K-Mg
imbalance.
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Nitrogen-
Not a serious threat, but symptoms include an overall light green color in
older leaves first and decreased vigor. Caused by cold soil temps, occurs every
winter in our area. Also caused by waterlogged soils. Over watering in heavy
clay in the summer with poor drainage. Correct by lightly applying Nitrogen or
reduce watering/improve drainage.
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Sensitivity to cold-
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Roots- most sensitive, but protected by ground
heat
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Leaves emerging spears, first to be damaged in
cold winters.
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Last damaged are the petioles, if they are not
dead the palm will return.
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Apply Bordeaux or Alliete
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Wrap with old blanket first two winters until it
becomes established!!! Always
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Diseases, pests.
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Palm scale- apply horticultural oil plus
pesticides formulated for scales. You have to kill the two stages of scale. The
adult and crawler stage. If you catch the scale infestation early, you can
maintain a scale free garden.
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Freeze damage- alliete or Bordeaux solution:
don't remove any green leaves. Clean up in June
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Phytophora bud rot- Over watering in heavy clay
during hot summer months causes new emerging bud to rot while old leaves are
green. Reduce water and apply antifungal, like Alliete.
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Try to leave as many leaves as possible to help
establish the palm, don't over prune
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Rate of growth from 3- 25 leaves/ season
depending on species.
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Regular water during the hot summer will greatly
increase the speed of growth of palms.
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Stop all watering by Thanksgiving to encourage
dormancy, to increase cold hardiness.
o Not
widespread in Dallas area yet.
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Curculio beetle
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Palm leaf skeletonizer
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Palm scale, specific to Palms. Very difficult to eradicate once established.
Comstockiella sabalis
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When bringing palms in from other areas make sure
they don't harbor diseases and pests that could affect our mostly palm pest
free area
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Places to view palms:
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Fair Park
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Texas discovery gardens- Palmetum there
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Food and Fiber Building- W. filifera
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Women's Building
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Greenhouses- Sabal X texensis
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Oak Lawn- Post properties
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Travel lodge on Market center Blvd.
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Sipango- Knox-Henderson- Sabal palmetto
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Hard Rock Café- Sabal mexicana (texana)
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Dallas and Fort Worth Zoo Large Trachycapus fortunei
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Dallas Arboretum
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Purchase
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Home depot
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Lowes
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Walmart
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Dallas Farmers Market
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Yucca do nursery in Hempstead 979-826-4580
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Houston-
Gardens nursery Red Tents, especially after July 1st
For more info:
Tony Cerbone's website
Dallaspalms.com
or phone
214-373-4559
