Growing Palms in Your Central Florida Yard

With summer approaching, it’s a good time to talk about palms. Planting palms in the summer months allows them time to develop a solid root system and take advantage of summer rainfall. Palms are different than many plants in your landscape and require special care. Proper selection, planting, watering, and fertilization are key to healthy palms in central Florida yards.

RIGHT PALM, RIGHT PLACE

Your Central Florida yard falls within USDA Zones 9b–10a, meaning palms must tolerate occasional cold temperatures and winter cold snaps. Many tropical palms that thrive in south Florida may struggle during and after cold weather, as we found out in 2025.

Cold-hardy palms for Central Florida landscapes include:

• Sabal Palm

• Needle Palm

• Carnaday Wax Palm

• Pindo Palm

• European Fan Palm

• Seashore Palm

• Chinese Fan Palm

These palms are all featured in the Florida-Friendly demonstration garden at the UF/IFAS Extension Service in Bartow in the Water Wise Garden. They are labeled and we encourage you to visit to see these palms, how they grow, and what they look like after a cold winter.

PROPER PALM PLANTING TIPS

Now is the time to plant palms! Planting palms is recommended during the summer months when the soil is warm, and roots can establish quickly.

Proper palm planting includes:

• Dig a hole only as deep, or slightly shallower than the root ball. The hole should be twice as wide.

• Water frequently after planting until the palm becomes established.

• Apply mulch (2-3 inches deep) around the base but keep mulch away from direct contact with the trunk. • Do not apply fertilizer when planting.

• Stake the palm as needed. Staking palms is different than staking trees.

Palms generally prefer well-drained soil. In poorly drained sites, roots may decline, leading to nutrient deficiency symptoms and reduced growth.

PALM NUTRITION IS IMPORTANT

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is using turf fertilizer on palms. Palms have very different nutritional needs from lawns and shrubs. Additionally, palms in Florida are often nutrient deficient when grown in, or near, a fertilized lawn, which can lead to an unsightly appearance such as yellow fronds, brown and abnormal frond tips, streaking, spotting and other presentations.

Use a specialized palm fertilizer with a fertilizer analysis of 8-0-12+4Mg. The first three numbers represent the percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and the fourth number is for magnesium (Mg). The fertilizer should also contain micronutrients. It is also important to look for a palm fertilizer that has nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium in slow-release form and that most of the micronutrients are in water soluble form. Correcting nutrient deficiencies can take up to 2 to 3 years.

The application and timing method are also important. Palm fertilizer should be applied evenly under the canopy of the palm. Bands of fertilizer or spikes are not recommended since these concentrations may burn the palm roots. In Central Florida, you can fertilize palms three times during the year, skipping a winter fertilizer application.

It is also important to remember that if you are correcting existing nutrient deficiencies, the affected palm fronds will not recover to their preferred appearance. The new fronds will emerge with no symptoms. And, while it is tempting to cut off the unsightly fronds, it is not recommended. These fronds (until fully brown) continue to provide nutrients to the palm. Visually, it can be months to see recovery from a nutrient deficiency once corrected.

PRUNING PALMS

Palms should not be over-pruned, only remove completely dead fronds. Over-pruning weakens palms and may make nutrient deficiencies worse. Avoid “hurricane pruning,” where too many green fronds are removed. This practice stresses the palm and can reduce its health over time.

Avoid injuring palm trunks with nails, climbing spikes, or lawn equipment, as damage can open the door to disease and insect issues. Palms do not heal like our hardwood trees.

PALM PROBLEMS

Some palm issues resemble nutrient deficiencies but may actually be caused by disease, insects, poor drainage, improper maintenance, or improper planting depth. Symptoms such as spear leaf collapse, trunk rot, or severe decline should be evaluated carefully. Our Plant Clinic is always here to help with palm questions.

If you have any questions about growing palms in your central Florida yard, contact UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at 863-519-1041 or visit us online at: sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/polk. The Plant Clinic is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer your gardening and landscaping questions. If you are not in Polk County, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Clinic.

To learn more about gardening and landscaping in central Florida, listen to the “Your Central Florida Yard” podcast. You can find it wherever you listen or visit our Substack: substack. com/@yourcentralfloridayard for more information. Episode 3 is on palm fertilizer and is helpful to anyone growing palms in Florida. An Equal Opportunity Institution.

Anne Yasalonis is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator for UF/ IFAS Extension Polk County. Please contact her at anneanne@ ufl.edu