Planting Palm Trees

Planting Palm Trees is not much different from the way you would plant other kinds of trees. Nursery-grown Palms should be potted, balled or burlapped at the root. Try to plant your palm tree shortly after buying it. If there is going to be any delay between purchase and planting, make sure that the palm tree's root ball is kept moist but not soaking.

Transporting Palm Tree

Palm Trees cannot live in pots for an indefinite period of time. Typically, a palm can grow two or three years in a pot. After that, the palm tree needs to be planted in the ground or re-potted in a larger pot with fresh soil.

Be careful when transporting and handling Palm Trees. Fragile bark is very easily damaged and damaged areas leave the tree vulnerable to insects and fungus. If you live in warm climate the best time of year to plant is during the warmer months when the soil temperature is at least 65 degrees F.

Important Planting Tips

Before we get to the planting instructions, I want to share few tips with you. If you purchased a palm tree from the greenhouse or shade-grown environment, it is not used to full sun. Palm trees that requires partial shade should be fine in the shady spot.

But what do you do if your palm tree requires full sun? Your palm tree will get sun burned if you planted it in the full sun. You need to slowly acclimatize your palm tree to the higher levels of light. You can do that in 2 ways.  

1. First way is to put it in the pot if it's not in the pot already and place it in the shady spot outside. Keep increasing light level a little bit every week till your palm tree gets used to the sun. After that you can plant your palm in the full sun.

2. Second way of doing it is, to plant your palm in the full sun spot and cover it. You can put 4 sticks in the ground with a plastic cover on top. Every few weeks put more holes in the plastic cover to expose your palm tree to more sun light. Your palm tree will be in shock after transplanting and it doesn't need extra stress.

Planting Palm Trees Step-by-Step Instructions

Step1: Pick a spot. Make sure it's a shady spot if your palm tree needs partial shade. Also think about size of your palm tree in the future making sure it's not going to get in the way of your power lines.

Step 2: Dig a hole. You need to make a hole wide enough to fit the root ball of the palm tree with plenty of room to spare. Making it twice as wide would be a good idea.

The hole should be just deep enough, so that the palm tree is planted at the depth at which it was grown. Do not plant the tree any deeper as this may deprive the roots of nutrients and water.

Step 3: Score the sides of the hole with a small shovel. If will loosen the soil allowing the palm tree roots to penetrate through the ground.

Step 4: Add some water to the hole and then add some soil mix. You want to use soil mix that will ensure good drainage for your palm tree. Most palm trees like moist well drained soil. You can add 30% sand to the soil mix, that should do it.

The best soil mix is based on Canadian peat moss. I found two different types on the Amazon. That's what I would use to make sure my soil has excellent drainage:

Step 5: Get your root wet and situate your palm. To minimize the transplant shock used the soil from the pot of your palm tree. You palm tree is used to this soil so it's not going to be as stressed.

Step 6: Back fill the rest of the hole with your soil mix.

Step 7: Build a Barrier. When the Palm Tree has been planted, next step would be to build a soil barrier around the circumference of the hole. This will form a dam that holds water. Add about 3 inches of organic mulch around the palm tree. I usually use Scotts Organic Classic Black Mulch because it's made from natural forest products and not waste wood. Also it will hold for a year.

Step 8: Brace your palm tree. The tree brace consists of three wooden blocks with two adjustable straps that are designed to protect your new tree from storm and wind damage. You must purchase this brace when you get your palm tree at the nursery. The braces must be placed around the bark.

Watering Newly-planted Palm Tree

Frequent watering is important for newly-planted Palm Trees. Daily for about the first two weeks and then tapering off over several months as the tree establishes itself. Use a bubbler or arrange a hose to slow soak the area around the tree. It is important not to allow the soil to dry out as this will severely weaken your new Palm.

This watering procedure should be done twice a month during the warm weather season and once every 6 months during the colder season. Here is great article on Watering Palm Trees.

Palm Trees Fertilizing

Palm Trees also require periodic fertilizer applications. There are commercial mixes available especially for Palm trees.

I personally use MG 4.5LB Palm Food that feeds plants up to 3 months. It has all the elements most palm tree needs and easy to use. So if you don't know what fertilizer to choose or tried other plant food that doesn't work I would recommend trying MG 4.5LB Palm Food.

It's better to use fertilizer that has continues release formula that feeds your palm tree for few months rather than using a cheap fertilizer that will wash away after 2-3 rains. Here is a post on Palm Tree Fertilization.

Newly planted palms should not be fertilized until after they put out a new spear, I would say about 2 month after planting. Be sure to fertilize only during the growing season.

I just found very good book for beginners that has step-by-step planting and care instructions, all nicely illustrated - "All About Palms." It has around 200 different species with a lot of beautiful photos. This book is perfect for an average homeowner who loves palm trees.