The sheer beauty of palm trees rank them among the most highly-valued landscaping plants in the world. Their bold and exotic character sets them apart from other plants.
Included in the planting palette, they easily command the most prominent locations in the garden as specimen plants. Their unique architecture, intricate textures and forms combine to give a dramatic effect to your outdoors.
Fortunately, gardening with palm trees need not be a headache for those of us that live in the tropics. The warm temperatures guarantee an inexhaustible range of species for palm enthusiasts to choose from.
From the common one truck types to the branched and clumped types, you will almost always find something that suits your needs as well as micro-climate.
Success with palm trees starts with an understanding of the different species available and especially their climatic and soil requirements. Here is a glimpse of how to go about gardening with palm trees.
Select wisely
There are numerous species under the family of palm trees with different sizes, character and growth requirements. The choice of which ones best suit your garden is therefore critical.
First, and most importantly, make sure the size and character of the mature palm tree is in keeping with your needs and the overall landscape design. Visit reputable nurseries in your area and find out which types are in stock and their mature size and growth characters.
Next you will need to find out the growth requirements for the palm trees you are interested in. Although the temperatures in this region are generally favourable for most palm trees, a bit of discretion should still be applied to achieve optimal results for each type. Remember that not all palm trees will do well in full sun. Some actually prefer filtered sunlight or full shade. If you are not sure it may be advisable to consult a landscape architect at this early stage.
The other important consideration when choosing palm trees is the soil type. Find out your soils’ pH. This will have a bearing on your choice because some species prefer acidic soils while others do best in alkaline soils.
Generally however, most palm trees will do best in well aerated, sandy-loam soils that are neutral of mildly acidic.
Plant right
The best way to plant palm trees is by using seedlings. The seedlings are normally germinated under controlled conditions and sold in containers.
The best seedlings are those that have grown a foot high and above. Select more than one seedling of each of the chosen kinds ensuring that they are clean with no sign of disease or insect infestation.
Planting a palm tree often requires you to amend the soil around the root area to increase their survival rate and speed of growth. Dig a hole, twice the size of the palm tree’s container and mix the excavated soil with some organic materials and some sand.
A ratio of two parts organic material, three parts native soil, and one part sand is usually recommended. Place your soil mix in the dug hole and plant the seedling so that the base of the trunk in the container matches the garden soil level.
Water deeply
Although palm trees have long been associated with desert climates, they are only found around oases and places with plenty of water. Your newly planted one is not an exception.
After planting, water deeply such that the water penetrates the root ball and the new soil mix all the way to the bottom. The first watering takes a surprisingly large amount of water. Subsequently however, watering should be lighter and more spaced out.
For the next few months, don’t allow the ground around the new palm to dry out completely. Water faithfully every other day and mulch to increase soil moisture retention.
Take care not to over-water though, too much water may discourage root growth and even cause rot.
