Michael Zimmerman posted on January 07, 2011 06:01
As we wrote about last year, 2010 was one of the coldest winters experienced in South Florida ever. Most of the trees and plant material had just begun recovering from last year’s prolonged period of cold temperatures. The recent cold snap has once again weakened our trees with the Coconut palm tree being one of the most severely affected. Not only do the fronds turn brown and begin to drop, the bud or head of the palm tree becomes very susceptible to fungus which can be fatal.
Since the top of the tree is where the problem originates, this is where it ultimately needs to be treated. Root drenches are just not enough. If and when the active chemical reaches the head of the palm tree, damage has likely occurred and may already be irreversible.
Last January we began treating palm trees with a fungicide drench applied directly to the head of the tree. The concentrated chemical solution was poured into the very center of the palm tree’s fronds. Spraying the tree from the ground would not place enough active material into the head and could damage other plant material when the chemical drifts. When necessary, our Plant Healthcare Technicians worked with our trained Arborists to treat those trees that were tall and not accessible from the ground. The bud drench treatment program helped protect the trees from fungal growth and proved to be very successful in saving hundreds of palm trees.
This year we have already begun treating hundreds of palm trees in the same manner. The cost of the treatment far outweighs the cost of removing and replacing a single Coconut palm tree which can easily range from $2,000 to $3,000 for a 10 to 15 foot tree. If you have Coconut palms or other exotic and expensive palm trees, contact our office and speak to one of our Certified Arborists about this program.