Palm trees are tropical and subtropical perennials in the family Arecaceae that grow as shrubs, trees, or vines suitable for growing in Zones 6 to 13, depending on the species.
Most have unbranched stems and clusters of evergreen leaves called fronds.
Notable features are shallow roots and a “false bark” made of tough leaf tissue that does not develop with age.
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There are different varieties for different locations, from full sun to full shade with moderately moist, well-drained sandy loam soil.
Heights range from 2 to 200 feet with widths up to 40 feet, giving gardeners many landscaping options.
In us Palm tree planting and care instructionsWe provide everything you need to know to care for these plants in your landscape.
This article discusses the main reasons why leaves may be falling off and how to fix them.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Why do palm leaves fray and fall off?
Let’s start the discussion by looking at how these plants grow naturally.
Some species, such as cabbage, Sabal PalmChristmas also known as Manila, Adonidia merrilliiand fox tail, Bifurcata foragerself-shedding, also known as self-cleaning.
These plants drop their dead leaves, a boon to gardeners who would otherwise have to climb ladders and use saws to cut off dead leaves.
It is normal to see a “layer” of dead leaves before they fall off on their own.
If your palm tree is shedding leaves and is not a deciduous variety, the cause could be one of the reasons we will discuss below.
Another feature you may observe is the “bridle”.
These are thread-like filaments that protrude from the sides and/or tips of the leaf blades, creating a frayed appearance as they separate from the leaf, dry out, and turn brown.
The bridle is the remaining plant tissue at the leaf margin before the leaf opens.
Cabbage, California, Washingtonia Wisteriaand Christmas trees exhibit this benign trait, and many growers take advantage of these fibers by breaking them off and twisting them into a strong rope.
This leaf blight is a harmless natural feature, but other abnormalities at the leaf tips and edges can be cause for concern, as we will discuss.
Sick
The three diseases that cause abnormal leaf appearance in these plants are:
- Fusarium wilt disease
- Ganoderma lucidum root rot and base rot
- Leaf spot
This is a fungal condition that causes leaves to discolor, wilt, and fall off.
Consider disease decline if you see these symptoms in species that do not defoliate spontaneously.
Typical symptoms of Fusarium wilt are brown, wilting leaves on one side of the main vertical leaf vein or leaflet.
The disease is incurable and affected plants must be removed and destroyed.
Ganoderma root rot and stem rot are also incurable and result in plant death. Symptoms include leaves not opening, leaves turning yellow or brown and wilting.
The telltale signs of leaf spot are dark, water-soaked lesions that develop black, brown, gray, and/or yellow halos. Treatment with a copper fungicide spray may be effective.
If your palm tree is large, consult a tree care professional to assess its health, diagnose disease, and treat as needed.
Herbicide absorption
Leaf defects can occur when plants absorb herbicides applied to the lawn, either through the soil or leaves.
Products derived from phenoxyacetic acid and products containing metsulfuron-methyl can cause leaves to curl, turn yellow, and wither.
If you must use herbicides anywhere in your landscape, protect the leaves and stems of your palms to avoid absorption and physiological damage.
Moisture stress
Plants that are over- or under-watered can become stressed by moisture, which can cause symptoms such as yellowing, browning, and falling leaves. Improper watering increases the risk of pests and pathogens and can lead to root rot, another cause of leaf decline.
Newly transplanted trees need to be provided with constant moisture during their first one to six months of growth, depending on the size and species of tree.
Then, water when the top three inches of soil are dry. Make sure your plant is growing in well-drained soil.
Evaluating your watering practices will help you determine whether leaf fraying and loss is due to moisture stress.
Consider installing one drip irrigation system to provide controlled humidity.
Nutrient deficiency
Another reason for uneven leaves is a lack or imbalance of essential nutrients, including potassium, manganese, magnesium, and nitrogen.
There are many causes of nutrient deficiencies, including:
- Soil pH
- Herbicide
- Planting depth
- Soil quality
Let’s discuss each of these issues.
Soil pH
The suitable soil pH for growing palm trees is between 5.5 and 7.5 – slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.
High pH (alkaline soil) prevents plants from absorbing necessary nutrients, leading to abnormal growth, leaf discoloration and death.
Conduct soil testing to determine the pH in your growing area and adjust if necessary.
Growing plants in soil with the proper pH helps prevent nutrient deficiencies that can negatively affect leaves.
Herbicide
The presence of herbicides in the soil can inhibit nutrient uptake or make them toxic when absorbed. Avoid using herbicides near palm trees.
Planting depth
When planting, it is important to keep the crown of the tree about an inch above ground level. Planting too deep not only increases the risk of root rot, but can also reduce the tree’s ability to absorb nutrients.
Soil quality
The ideal soil for palm trees is a loose, well-drained sandy loam. Compacted soil lacks oxygen, drains poorly, and is detrimental to root growth and nutrient uptake.
Soil testing helps determine what supplements are needed to provide balanced nutrition in adequate amounts.
Bugs
Bug, mealybugAnd ratio are more likely to feed on weakened plants. If the infestation is left unchecked, these aggressive sap-suckers will deform and desiccate the leaves.
Treatments include heavy spraying with a hose to repel visible insects and using insecticidal soap or horticultural neem oil to reduce insect populations.
Tracking some major pests is a challenge, and insects like the South American palm weevil beetle, a carnivorous beetle, can destroy a tree in months.
You may need an arborist with overhead equipment to inspect and treat the tree canopy with a high-pressure spray.
When there are no pests or diseases, palm trees are less likely to lose their leaves.
Weather
Palm trees exposed to unseasonably cold or hot weather, strong winds or lightning strikes are likely to suffer damage such as leaf loss or leaf drop.
Proactive mitigation measures include adding water during droughts, wrapping trees in frost protection to guard against cold snaps, and taking the controversial step of pruning green leaves before storms to minimize wind damage.
Opponents of this practice argue that the risk of nutrient loss and vulnerability to pests associated with cutting green leaves outweighs the potential benefits of reducing the tree canopy for better wind protection.
Let the conventional wisdom of your area guide you.
After severe weather, use disinfected pruning shears and saws to clean up damaged branches and leaves and remove all fallen leaves to prevent the growth of pests.
Know Your Hand
As we have seen, leaf shedding and falling can be a natural part of the growing process or the result of other factors, such as herbicide absorption, disease, nutritional deficiencies, pests or weather.
With six potential reasons to consider, you’ll better understand the plants you grow, meet their cultural requirements, assess them for environmental stressors, and showcase them at their best.
Do you grow palm trees? Have you dealt with palm leaf blight? Please share your comments below.
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