Palms are the ultimate tropical tree. From beautiful landscapes in tropical coastlands to stylish landscapes in urban settings, palms bring value to any property, both aesthetically and monetarily. However, even tough palm trees need special care in order to grow into strong, healthy, and colorful trees. For new landscapes, the smartest thing to do with your tropical trees is to have them professionally installed.
While there are many landscapers who can plant trees and maintain trees and plants for their customers, there are few landscapers who have experience with tropical trees. That is where a palm tree company comes in. They have the knowledge to pick the perfect tree for your needs, from the trunk and fronds to the roots and soil. They can offer maintenance and repairs that go far beyond lawn care.
Why You Need a Specialized Palm Tree Company
Palm trees are separate from broadleaf trees and conifers and are actually large, woody herbs. Their vascular system, nutritional needs, pruning regime, etc. can all be quite different from these trees.
It’s best to get the help of a specialized palm tree company, as they can provide the correct care for the trees in your landscape. These experts employ a certified arborist for palm health, who will use his or her horticultural expertise to recommend correct watering schedules and manage diseases and pest control. Using a licensed tree care company also has the advantage that you are protected from liability should any accidents occur when the tree is being maintained, whether it’s for routine pruning or requires the use of heavy equipment such as cranes or chippers.
Expert Selection and Palm Tree Installation
Beautiful landscapes don’t just happen overnight. Quality tree installation is a critical component of the long-term health and aesthetics of your landscape.
Picking the Perfect Trees to Plant in Your Landscape
First, you have to pick the right tree to plant. Most people will consider the following factors when picking trees for a new landscape:
- the landscape’s climate
- the trees’ ability to thrive in the landscape’s soil
- the available space to grow in the landscape
Before you can pick the perfect tree for your new landscape, you must find the perfect palm tree nursery to purchase your trees from. You can tell if you have found the right palm tree nursery by the nursery’s labeling of the trees, the cleanliness of the grounds to prevent the spread of pests and diseases, and the staff’s horticultural knowledge to help pick the perfect tree for your landscape.
Your nursery can help you decide between native palm trees and invasive species of palm trees and assist you with landscaping with drought-tolerant palm trees. The palm tree nursery you choose will play a huge part in your landscape’s long-term success.
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The Installation of Palm Trees in Your Landscape
After you have picked the perfect tree for your new landscape, it must be properly installed to ensure that the tree thrives in your landscape. If you searched for “palm tree installation near me,” then you know that there are a lot of different companies that can perform the necessary tree installation for you. However, not all companies that offer palm tree installation are created equal.
Specialized companies will be able to offer a complete, professional installation from start to finish. This means that the tree delivery and planting will be handled by the installation company. They will also take the utmost care in transporting the tree, especially when it comes to protecting the root ball of the tree to ensure that it does not suffer from shock after the installation.
If you are looking for a cost-effective way to install a palm tree in your landscape, then you may consider purchasing a small container palm tree and planting it yourself. However, it is recommended that you hire a professional for the installation of larger, more mature trees that require transplanting. Large trees require heavy equipment, bracing, and horticultural knowledge in order to properly transplant the tree without causing harm to the tree’s roots.
Large, mature trees that are installed by a professional will also command higher installation prices than smaller trees. This is why it is highly recommended that businesses seek out a specialized palm tree installation company for the commercial palm tree installation on a storefront, resort, or office park. Commercial trees must be properly installed in order to maintain the look and safety of pedestrians walking around the area. Installation of commercial trees also requires the proper planning to minimize disruption to the business.
Comprehensive Ongoing Care and Maintenance
Once trees have been planted, they require ongoing care to help them reach their full potential. Many landscapers do not have sufficient knowledge or experience in looking after tropical trees and palm trees and can do considerable harm. It is highly recommended that you use a professional palm tree company to look after your trees.
Pruning and Skinning - The Most Common Mistakes
The most common mistakes made by inexperienced trimmers are over-pruning and incorrectly skinning a palm tree trunk. By removing all of the green fronds of a tree, the tree is unable to produce food for itself, which will cause the tree to weaken rapidly. It is recommended that pruning is carried out at the correct time of year for the species of palm tree that you have. For most species of palms, it is recommended that only dead, brown fronds are removed, ideally just before the hurricane or monsoon seasons.
Many people like to have their palm tree trunks skinned to give them a smooth surface. Skinning a palm tree trunk is a very delicate process, and great care must be taken not to cut into the soft, living tissue of the trunk. If an amateur attempts to skin a palm tree incorrectly, they can cause deep wounds in the trunk of the tree, which can then be subject to attack by pests and diseases.
Fertilization and Climate Protection - Nutrient Deficiencies in Palms
Palms are notorious for suffering from a lack of certain nutrients. If a palm tree does not receive the correct amount of micronutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and manganese, then the tree can suffer from a variety of illnesses including yellowing of the leaves, frizzling of the leaves, and stunted growth of the tree. It is highly recommended that the best fertilizers for tropical palms are used and that these are applied on a regular basis using a slow-release, palm-specific formula that has been designed to suit the type of soil that you have.
Some areas experience occasional winter frosts, and it is very important to protect your outdoor palms from freezing temperatures. There are a number of methods that can be used to protect palms from frost including the application of anti-desiccant sprays, wrapping the trunks of the trees, and the use of temporary heating structures.
Protecting Your Landscape: Diagnostics and Disease Management
One of the greatest services provided by a specialty tree service is the ability to diagnose potential problems before they become fatal to a tree. Identifying palm tree diseases can save magnificent trees decades in the making.
Some of the most destructive diseases to impact palm trees are fungal in nature. For example, Ganoderma butt rot and Fusarium wilt can quickly destroy trees in any landscape. Recently, there has been much concern over a new disease affecting palm trees: lethal bronzing. This bacterial disease is spread by sap-feeding insects. Arborists are able to identify symptoms of lethal bronzing in trees, including fruit falling from trees prematurely, discolored lower fronds that have a bronzed appearance, and the death of the spear leaf. Because the disease is incurable once it has fully affected a tree, the only way to save surrounding healthy trees from lethal bronzing is to detect the disease early and administer antibiotic injections to the tree. Only a certified arborist is able to provide these services.
Safe and Efficient Tree Removal
Palm Trees That Must Be Removed. Even with the best care, there are palm trees that need to be removed. Disease, a lightning strike, or even structural instability can cause a tree to fall, and it can fall in an unexpected fashion. That’s where the palm tree removal companies come in.
The Removal Process
Never attempt to remove a large palm tree on your own. The trunks are heavy, fibrous, and can fall in an unexpected fashion. Experts use bucket trucks, cranes, and tree removal rigging to safely dismantle the tree piece by piece to protect your home, vehicles, and landscape.
Understanding the Costs of Palm Tree Removal
Homeowners often ask how much palm tree removal will cost. The cost of removal depends on several factors including:
- Height of the Tree: Trees that are taller will require more equipment and time to remove.
- Location: Trees near power lines, fences, overhanging roofs, etc. require complex rigging, which will cost more.
- Stump Grinding: Removing the entire palm root system is an additional service that requires its own piece of equipment for grinding. While removal of a tree is an investment, it is a drop in the bucket compared to the potential property damage or even medical bills that could result from a DIY disaster.
Emergency Palm Tree Removal Services for Storm Damage
As with any weather-related event, nature is unpredictable and can cause damage to your trees. After a severe storm, you may need emergency tree services to remove the trees that have fallen due to the storm. Trees can have their fronds snapped, be pulled from the ground if they were shallowly planted, or even have the trunk split and be left to lean precariously. 24/7 Emergency Service is available to safely remove the fallen debris and to clear your driveway. They can also come out and try to save any trees that were damaged in the storm.
The Bottom Line: Partner with Professionals
The landscape around your home or business is an extension of your property. Tropical plants demand a level of refinement and care to ensure they are healthy and beautiful. We specialize in palm trees, and by choosing a dedicated palm tree company, you are ensuring the long-term health, safety, and beauty of your plants.
A general contractor cannot provide the same level of care for your tropical plants as a dedicated team of licensed, experienced arborists, from the time of initial installation of your palm trees through to regular fertilization, pruning, and disease control. Whether you are planning a backyard oasis using native, drought-resistant varieties or require emergency service in the aftermath of a storm, we are the experts you can count on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why hire a specialized palm tree company as opposed to your general landscaper?
A: Simply put, palms are large, woody herbs. They have unique vascular systems, nutritional needs, and requirements for pruning and maintenance. A reputable Palm Specialist has the species-specific expertise to service your palm trees. They typically have a certified arborist on staff and will follow horticultural principles to service your trees, including proper watering schedules and disease control. Many Palm Specialists are also licensed Tree Care Specialists. This is very important, as liability for damage during tree maintenance or tree removal can fall squarely on the property owner.
Q: How do I choose the right palms for my landscape and a reputable nursery to get them from?
A: When choosing a palm for your landscape, you must consider the following:
- Climate – palms are not created equal when it comes to withstanding cold temperatures or drought. Some species are much more cold-hardy than others, and some are much more drought-tolerant.
- Soil type – if you have clay soil, you are going to want to avoid palms that have very sensitive root systems, as they will easily become root-bound in clay soils.
- Available space – make sure you have enough room for the full mature height and width of the palm.
Choose native species that will thrive in your landscape without invasive competition. Drought-tolerant species can also be a good choice, as they will help reduce water usage.
When choosing a nursery, look for the following:
- Clearly labeled plants – you want to know what you are buying.
- Clean nursery grounds free of pests and debris – a dirty nursery is often a breeding ground for pests that can spread to other plants in your landscape.
- Knowledgeable staff – the staff at the nursery should be able to answer all of your questions about the different species of palms they carry and make recommendations based on your specific landscape and climate.
Q: What is involved in the professional installation of palm tree(s), and what would affect the price?
A: A good Palm Specialist will begin by selecting the right palm(s) for your specific needs and landscape. From there, they will deliver the trees to your property and install them. The installer will make every effort to install the tree to guarantee its health for as long as possible. This includes keeping the root system of the tree as intact as possible during installation and making sure the tree is standing up straight. The price for palm tree installation can vary depending on a number of factors, including the size of the tree when it was in the nursery, the location where the tree will be installed, and the species of palm. For example, smaller container palms are less expensive to plant than larger trees. Trees of this nature can be planted using simple excavation techniques and smaller equipment. On the other hand, older, larger, and more mature palms require specialized equipment, greater care, and more time to install correctly in order to avoid root shock. Additionally, trees of this nature often require bracing in order to ensure safe transit to and from the jobsite as well as during installation. The cost for planting such trees can range from several hundred dollars per tree to $10,000 or more per tree for larger, more mature specimens. Commercial installations of palms also carry increased costs due to a number of factors. These factors include the cost to skin (smooth out) the trunk of the tree, the increased labor costs to plant trees in commercial landscapes, the cost to stake trees to ensure proper growth, and increased planning required to ensure safe pedestrian traffic around planted trees as well as to coordinate installation around business operations in order to minimize disruption to business.
Q: What are the best practices for pruning and skinning palm trees?
A: When it comes to pruning palms, many people make the mistake of removing too many fronds. However, this can cause significant harm to the tree. Only remove fronds that are completely dead and brown. This type of removal is typically done in the months leading up to hurricane or monsoon season in order to prevent strong storms from causing additional damage to already weakened trees. Skinning the trunk of a palm is also very important for aesthetic purposes. However, skinning a palm trunk is very delicate work. The installer must ensure that he is not cutting through living tissue as he shaves off the dead bases of the fronds. If too much living tissue is cut during skinning, the wound can create an entry point for pests and for disease to attack the tree.
Q: How do professionals handle the nutritional needs of your palms, protect palms from cold weather, and deal with palm diseases?
A: Professionals can determine if your palm is suffering from any nutritional deficiencies and can administer slow-release, palm-specific fertilizers that are formulated to address specific pH levels of soils. In cooler climates, palm trees can be killed by cold weather. In order to protect palms from cold weather, professionals can spray the leaves of the tree with anti-desiccant sprays prior to cold weather, wrap the trunk of the palm with protective covering, and even use temporary heating structures to protect individual palms or groups of palms. There are many serious diseases that can affect palm trees, including Ganoderma butt rot, Fusarium wilt, and lethal bronzing. While Ganoderma butt rot and Fusarium wilt can be very destructive to palm trees, they are typically easier to treat than lethal bronzing, which is currently considered to be incurable once the disease has taken hold of a tree. However, a certified arborist can work to monitor the health of your palm trees for signs of disease and administer preventative antibiotic injections to healthy trees surrounding infected trees in order to help protect them from spreading the disease. In cases where a tree is deceased or is considered to be hazardous, a licensed tree care company can safely remove the tree from your property and complete the job in a timely manner, often 24/7 after a storm.
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