Palm and tree questions

The questions Southwest Florida asks most.

Short answers from an ISA Certified Arborist. Each one starts with the answer, then explains it.

• Why is my palm tree turning yellow?Most yellow palms in Southwest Florida are hungry, not sick.
• Why is my palm tree turning brown?A palm browning from its oldest, lowest fronds is often late potassium deficiency or cold damage, and those palms usually recover with care.
• How often should palm trees be fertilized in Florida?In Florida’s sandy soil, smaller and more frequent feedings beat one large one, because nutrients wash below the roots fast.
• What is the best fertilizer for palm trees in Florida?The documented UF/IFAS standard for Florida landscape palms is an 8-2-12 fertilizer with 4 percent magnesium plus micronutrients, in controlled-release form.
• When should palm trees be trimmed in Florida?Most palms need pruning once a year, and coconut palms every 6 months.
• How much does it cost to trim a palm tree in Florida?Sabal (cabbage) palms are the palm we prune most, tens of thousands a year.
• How do you test a palm for lethal bronzing?A core is drilled from the living trunk and tested by PCR at a UF/IFAS lab.
• Should palm trees be trimmed before a hurricane?Take the dead fronds off before June 1, prune to the 9-and-3 line, and cut nothing above it.
• Why are my palms still yellow after fertilizing?Usually the problem is not how much fertilizer goes down, but whether the palm can use it.
• Can my lawn company take care of my palms?Most landscape crews are hired to maintain turf, shrubs and beds, and palm health care is a separate discipline.
• When should you call an arborist instead of a tree service?Call an arborist when you need to know what is wrong, not only to get work done: a declining palm, a tree that may be a risk, or a removal you want a second opinion on.
• Why are tree removal quotes so different?Removal quotes for the same tree often cover different work.
• What should a tree removal quote include?A good removal quote says why the tree is coming out, how it comes down, what happens to the stump, and what is hauled away.
• What should an HOA ask before hiring a palm and tree company?Ask who the ISA Certified Arborist is, whether the company is a licensed Florida pest control business, whether it tests before calling a disease, whether it will bid to a written standard you can compare, and whether a second-opinion visit is covered.