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How to Fertilize a Palm Tree
How to Fertilize a Palm Tree. Palm trees require nutrient-rich soil to regenerate fronds easily and maintain a healthy green hue. Because palms have a long growing season and often are planted in poor-quality soil, using a proper fertilizer plays an important role in the growth of these plants. Often called palm food, specialty palm fertilizer is...
Palm trees require nutrient-rich soil to regenerate fronds easily and maintain a healthy green hue. Because palms have a long growing season and often are planted in poor-quality soil, using a proper fertilizer plays an important role in the growth of these plants. Often called palm food, specialty palm fertilizer is available in most home improvement centers or nurseries. It contains a complete complement of the macronutrients nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, as well as the micronutrients palms need to maintain basic health. The most important of these is magnesium, and palm fertilizer formulations have this plus other trace nutrients such as manganese, copper and zinc.
Things You'll Need
Palm food/fertilizer 8-4-12 plus 4 percent magnesium
Fertilize your palm trees three to four times each year at two- to three-month intervals, such as in late March, June, September and late October.
Provide 3 to 4 lbs. of special palm food or fertilizer for each tree, for each fertilizing session. Use a complete nutrition product labeled for palms with a guaranteed analysis of 8-4-12 plus roughly 4 percent magnesium. This will ensure that the tree receives the nutrients its needs.
Cast the fertilizer grains around the root zone of the palm, staying at least 8 inches from the trunk and extending to an area roughly 1.5 times the diameter of the tree canopy. Create a thin, even layer of fertilizer all around the tree to cover the root zone.
Water in the fertilizer immediately after each application. Soak the fertilizer and surrounding soil thoroughly, ensuring that the soil is wet to a depth of at least 6 to 8 inches. This will distribute the fertilizer nutrients through the soil and help prevent chemical burns to the fine and fibrous palm roots.
