Neighborhood News Continued:One of the most important facts to keep in mind is this, quoted from the article on Fusarium wilt done by the University ofFlorida: Fusarium wilt “can survive for long periods in the soil….Experimental and observational evidence has shown thepotential for infecting palms…with this fungus via the root system. Therefore, it would not be prudent to plant a Canary Islanddate palm back into a site where Fusarium wilt had killed the previous palm. It is not known how far away from the potentiallyfungal-infested site one must move before it is safe to plant a Canary Island date palm, or other potentially susceptible Phoenixspecies.” These species include all date palms, reclinatas, and roebellinis.Canary palms are extremely difficult to maintain. Please read the article on the CDD website about the challengesassociated with canary palms. Residents may contract with any of the 3 companies (Middleton, Nutrilawn, and Tri-S)currently permitted to fertilize residential yards, shrubs, and trees in Cory Lake to care for the palms in your yard.TROPICAL PALMS + FREEZING WEATHER = NOW WHAT?P.G. Woods, OLM, Inc.Trying to grow tropical palms in sub-tropical and temperate climates means cold damage is inevitable. This year’s cold weatheris not atypical for Florida. For example, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a series of hard freezes destroyed much of the citrusindustry located north of Orlando, which is why that industry pushed south to Immokalee. During that same time period, severefreeze damage occurred on palms throughout the state. The only difference between then and now is that there are a lot morepalms planted in communities that did not even exist in the early 1980s. So, for many people, this is their first experience withsevere cold damage.Patience is essential with cold-damaged palms! Avoid the temptation to immediately trim damaged leaves. In most cases, thepetiole and rachis will still be green. As long as any green tissue remains, the leaf should not be removed. Damaged leavesmay provide some protection during subsequent cold events, plus green tissue is photosynthetic tissue. Even a completelydead leaf may provide some insulating protection, especially against a radiational freeze or frost. Once the palm has producedsubstantial new growth (2 to 3 new leaves), damaged leaf tissue can be removed. If trunk damage is observed externally dueto a freeze, it is likely that there is substantial internal damage to the vascular and structural trunk tissue. These palms shouldbe removed as they can pose a structural hazard in the landscape¹.The recent freezing temperatures have caused quite a stir among gardeners. I have seen many subtropical and tropical plantsdamaged as a result of the cold weather. However, it is not uncommon to lose plant material from time to time. Even broadleafevergreens such as azaleas and pittosporums suffer from freeze damage along the Coast.Perhaps one of the most commonly injured plants is the sago palm. Ironically, this palm can tolerate a wide range of conditions,but foliage injury occurs quite often at low temperatures. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this plant, it is not a true palm.Its thick trunk and feather-like leaves do give the appearance of a palm; nonetheless, it is related to the ginkgo and pine trees.Furthermore, its origin dates back to prehistoric times. Its dark green leaves, called fronds, can reach lengths of three feet.Sagos are slow growing and recover slowly from injury. They do fit nicely into tropical landscapes and are used successfully asstriking focal points.The most obvious damage to sagos is the yellow or brown foliage that results from cold damage. I've checked a few in the areaand all should recover. Only time will tell. They may not look very pleasing until plenty of new growth has had time to masksome of the damaged foliage². Patience + Continuing Care = Best Chance for Recovery.Additional Comments Regarding Cold Damage to PalmsMonica L. Elliott, Ph.D. and Timothy K. Broschat, Ph.D.University of Florida – IFAS / Fort Lauderdale Research and Education CenterMississippi State University Cooperative Extension Service / Chance McDavidTo learn more about palms in Florida, I would recommend the technical but informative Central Florida Cycad and Palms Society website athttp://207.210.245.133/ms/observations/index.html Many questions about cold damage on palms can be answered by review of the University of Floridadocument “Treating Cold Damaged Palms” at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg318FREEZE DAMAGE AND STRESS IN LANDSCAPE PLANTSP.G. Woods Olm, Inc.Per your request for information to circulate to your community, I have referenced University ofFlorida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science data to provide a consistent message withwhat local government (Cooperative Extension) provides and support their recommendationsfully.Many of my plants are brown. How do I know when they are dead, and should beremoved?Brown leaves are just a hint of the damage that may have resulted from the cold. Wait a few weeks or more before making anydecisions. As the weather warms up, plant portions often continue to decline. You may notice stems cracking and bark peelingaway as further indication of the cold damage. In about a month the extent of the cold damage can be detected. Use a knife toscrape along the stems until you find green tissue. This is normally the point where the plant can begin new growth. For some,the green stems may be found only at the ground. Given time, even these plants can recover rapidly because of the wellestablishedroot systems.Continued On Page 14...Page 12 Ikare Publishing, Inc. 907-3629
Rick’s Pressure Cleaning, LLC.Non–Pressure Roof CleaningPaver Sealing - Pressure WashingDriveways - Homes - Pool EnclosuresPhone: (813) 404-2526rickbeckner@verizon.netLicensed & InsuredFree EstimateSoft spray cleaning processon homes, roofs, andenclosures.Real Estate, Real Easy!When you choose yourneighborhood realtor for allyour real estate needs!Ramak Milani813-758-4166Ramak.Milani@ColdwellBanker.Comwww.Ikarepublishing.com ~ 907-3629 ~ page 13
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