Nothing says “Florida” quite like a palm tree! In fact, the sabal palm is Florida’s state tree. To head off the smarty-pants out there, we know – botanically speaking, palms aren’t really trees. They’re monocots – grass-like plants that include celery and corn. But for the purposes of common use, we’ll refer to them as trees. They have what appears to be a trunk, grow from the ground, and have greenery on top. Good enough!

If you’re a recent transplant from a snowy climate, your vision of the ideal Central Florida yard probably had a palm tree or two in it! Now that you’re here – or if you’re a native or longtime Floridian – your property may already be graced by at least one palm. But planning a landscape with palms as focal points and/or accents takes a little doing. Whether you want to go big with the tropical vibe, or mix them in among scrub oaks, ligustrums and other popular plants, palms can be a great asset to your property when selected properly!

Advantages of Palms in the Landscape

In addition to their ability to evoke feelings of living in an island paradise, the first big advantage of palm trees becomes apparent after a hurricane rages through Central Florida. The morning after reveals mighty oaks uprooted – too often crashed through roofs and vehicles – while palms that bent and swayed with the winds are still standing. Their ability to weather storms by being flexible could serve as an example to us!

Moreover, without heavy branches that can grow dangerously over roofs, palm trees are fairly contained in their vertical growth – also making them far less likely to cause property damage during a hurricane or tropical storm.

According to Johnsons Farms FL Inc., other advantages of palms include the following:

Palm trees provide natural shade – Although it isn’t the same type of shade as a spreading oak, the wide, leafy fronds of strategically placed palm trees can offer welcome shade in outdoor seating areas, or by patios and decks. They also can shade specific areas of your home, like windows and walls – thereby naturally regulating temperatures. Another plus: The slim trunks of palm trees don’t interfere with scenic views!

Palm trees increase curb appeal – However long you’ve lived in The Sunshine State, palms help establish the quintessential Florida look. Planting tall palms along your property can draw eyes toward your home. Shorter palms in tree planters by an entryway make an attractive focal point.

Palm trees help clean the air – Like all plants, palm trees purify air naturally by taking in carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen. Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants are absorbed by palm trees and are converted into less harmful compounds, which is great for the environment!

Palm trees provide privacy – Low-hanging dense palm fronds can act as natural privacy screens when planted in strategic spots along property lines or patios. They conceal without completely obscuring their surroundings. The multi-trunked European fan palm (also known as the Mediterranean fan palm) can be clustered for a lush tropical look that secludes at the same time. You can even place some palm species – such as the pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) – in decorative planters to create a stylish privacy wall.

Choosing the Right Palm for the Location

Fortunately, there are many species of palm to choose from, depending upon the effect you want to create in your landscape! From tall – such as the afore-mentioned sabal palm, which reaches a height of up to 40 feet – to the also-afore mentioned petite pigmy date palm (also commonly known as a robellini palm).

According to JMC Landscaping, “Selecting the right palm trees should first and foremost be based on a location’s intended use and attributes. There are various palms available for landscaping homes, commercial buildings, parks, and streets. They can be used as patio trees, border plants, specimens, or street plants.

“Consider the overall appearance of the property you’ll be putting the palms on. Large, towering palm trees lend a stately feeling to the area with their feathery canopies, while shorter palms with cute, fan-shaped leaves make great accent pieces.

“To make sure you have healthy palm trees, you need to choose the right palm species. Moreover, find out if your chosen palm species prefer the shade or sunlight so you’d have an idea of where to plant them. As much as possible, avoid planting palm trees in areas with direct sunlight. Too much sun can burn the fronds, eventually killing them.”

Common palm species include the following, with thanks to Central Florida Tree and Landscape, Lake Wales:

Sabal palm – Also known as the cabbage palm, the sabal palm (Sabal palmetto) has a full, round canopy atop a trunk 10–16 inches in diameter and reaches up to 40 feet in height. This palm is highly adaptive, tough, tolerant of a wide range of soils, and is hurricane-resistant. When planted six to 10 feet on center, sabal palms provide desirable shade.

Pygmy date palm – A small-sized palm with graceful arching fronds, suitable for smaller landscapes. It’s also ideal for landscaping a pool area – especially a screen-enclosed pool. Our blog post – “Landscaping Ideas for Your Central Florida Pool Area” – offers suggestions for creating a variety of moods using different low-maintenance plant species.

Windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) – Cold-hardy and pest-resistant, this graceful palm adds a touch of elegance to Central Florida landscapes.

Majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis) – With feathery fronds, this is a popular choice for its tropical appearance.

Foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) – Recognized for its unique foxtail-like fronds, this palm adds a distinctive flair to landscapes.

Pindo palm (Butia capitata) – Drought-tolerant and versatile, the pindo palm features arching fronds and edible fruit. The fruits can be messy on sidewalks and walkways, so plant at least 10 feet away from paved surfaces.

Christmas palm (Adonidia merrillii) – Named for its festive appearance, the Christmas palm is compact and suitable for smaller spaces.

Fundamental Palm Care

As our blog post – “Palm Tree Care and Feeding” – notes, while palm trees are usually hardy, they do require a certain amount of maintenance in order for them to achieve full growth and be healthy. Here is what you need to know!

Fertilizing your palm correctly is a crucial part of ensuring successful growth. This is because Florida’s sandy soil doesn’t hold on to nutrients as well — especially during periods of heavy rain — leading to nutrient deficiencies, which can lead to defoliation and eventually death. The best way to make sure your palm tree has enough nutrients is to use a slow-releasing fertilizer that is specially formulated for palm trees. 

These slow-release fertilizers are available in granules, pellets and spikes that deliver small doses over time directly to the palm’s roots. Over-fertilizing your palm tree can be just as harmful as not fertilizing, so it’s important to follow label directions. Fertilize in spring, summer and fall. Spread granular fertilizer evenly underneath the canopy (leaf spread) starting one foot away from the trunk and spreading it out to and around the leaf spread. Do not pile fertilizer up against the trunk, as this will damage new roots. Water after application.

Signs of distress due to poor nutrition include the following:

• Older foliage that turns yellow-to-orange indicates a magnesium deficiency.
• Yellow-to-orange spots on all of the palm’s foliage is evidence of potassium deficiency. 
• Symptoms of nitrogen deficiency include the yellowing and dropping of leaves and poor growth. This is most likely to occur in soil that is low in organic content, although nitrogen loss can also be caused by erosion, runoff and leaching of nitrate. 

Moreover, sensitive palm species need protection from freezing temperatures, on the rare occasions a freeze alert is issued. Covering them with cloth frost is recommended. Speaking of covering, our blog post – “It’s Winter in Central Florida! How to Bundle Up Your Plants to Protect Them From Freezing!” – covers this topic in detail!

Should palms be pruned like other trees? You’ll probably like the answer! As the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) points out, some palm trees — such as the sabal palm — are “self-cleaning,” and shed old fronds on their own. For those that aren’t, you may choose to prune them periodically. Use a pole saw to remove any brown fronds, or hire a lawn care professional to do the job.

One thing to not do is prune tall palm trees to prevent damage from a hurricane, which is unnecessary and can harm the tree. Remember, palm trees are designed to be resilient to high winds! Only prune to remove dead growth.

The Take-Home Message

Whichever species — or variety of species — of palm tree you choose to lend a tropical feel to your slice of Central Florida paradise, our team at Daniel’s Lawn Service & Pressure Washing is ready to help with a wide range of services, from landscape design to plant selection, installation and maintenance. We have experience planting trees of all types, and can also recommend the optimal location to plant in terms of soil, light, and aesthetic appeal. Call us today to learn how we can give you the lawn and garden of your dreams!