Indications of Disease in Your Palm Tree
Is your palm tree not quite right these days? The fronds are changing to hues they have not been before, and you may be left to wonder if it is a case of something more or merely a temporary thing.
We at Luna Tree can put your mind at ease. Our ISA-certified arborists will tell you what is what; we have been tending to the palms and other Beach Cities staples since 1928. Give us a ring at (949) 240-5925 should you have any misgivings about your palm. Out of our Capistrano Beach office we cover all of South Orange County and are on hand 24/7.
You would be hard pressed to find a part of life in South Orange County without a palm tree, from San Clemente over to Dana Point. They put shade in the yard and are a fixture on the street. Yet for all their hardiness and love of the sun they are not immune to disease. An early spot of a warning sign is the difference between your palm making it or not.
The Difficulty in Spotting Palm Disease
A palm is not like the other trees one has on his property. It is all about the crown, the single point of growth at the top, and an oak will mend a damaged trunk where a palm will not. In no time at all the disease can be well along before there is any show of it.
Homeowners are wont to put off calling for assistance because of this. One season the palm seems fine, the next it is in decline. It pays to know what to watch for.
Frond Discoloration
Take a look at the leaves. A healthy frond is a deep green. When trouble is afoot the color will change and in a way you cannot miss.
Some of the patterns that merit a closer inspection:
- A yellowing from the tip back
- Streaks of brown or bronze
- Fronds taking on a washed out, dull green prior to death
- The lower, older fronds being the first to show it
- Any spotting or blotches on the leaf
It is normal for a palm to shed its oldest leaves with some yellowing. But quick spreading discoloration or anything affecting the new growth up top is cause for an arborist’s opinion.
When Fronds Wilt or Droop
There is a certain strength to a palm frond. Should they start to sag or fold in the middle the tree is having trouble, frequently from a fungus of the vascular system. If the very newest fronds at the top of the crown are drooping, it is an urgent matter. That is the heart of the tree and damage there is often fatal.
What the Trunk Will Reveal
Examine the trunk from top to bottom for the oddity.
Be on the lookout for:
- Wood that is spongy to the touch
- Dark liquid or sap oozing out of the bark
- Conks or mushrooms at the base
- Splits, cracks or places that have caved in
- A narrowing of the trunk as you go up
Any fungal growth at the base is of concern as it is indicative of rot inside the trunk which will compromise the tree and be a hazard.
Deformities in New Growth
The spear leaf, that unopened frond at the apex, is a good barometer. A palm in good health will put out fresh fronds with regularity. If the new growth is stunted or twisted, or the spear leaf is rotted and comes out with little effort, then disease is at work in the crown and the tree requires a professional.
Seeing These Signs? Here is What to Do
Most problems with a palm can be put to rights if you get to them in time. But it is a tricky business and an incorrect treatment is a waste of time the tree cannot afford. You want someone who has seen it all.
Luna Tree is a family operation and in the tree service game since 1928. We have dealt with every kind of palm issue a homeowner in South Orange County might come across. Our arborists make a specialty of the Coast Live Oaks and palms found in the Beach Cities. We give free estimates and our pricing is up front so there are no surprises. In the event a palm is too far gone to save, we also handle safe tree removal to eliminate the hazard.
Do not put it off if you see any of the above. Call us at (949) 240-5925. We are here day or night to put in the work to keep the trees in our part of California looking as they should.
