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Palm Trees - Day 17: 21 Days of Garden Fatigue

Until recently I have never seen the point in palms. The reason: I live in a climate zone where they are possible to grow easily and many (or should I say most) new homeowners have grabbed hold of these low-maintenance plants and adorned their non-existant gardens with them. They have become so fashionable that they have now surpassed conifers as the "lazy-man's" plant of choice.

However, I have since discovered bromeliads in a big way and have now added a rainforest room to our garden (yet to be constructed) which means that palms are going to be a big part of this. Palms when planted in a way as to resemble their own environment look fantastic and distinctly display a tropical atmosphere.

So how do you keep them from looking tired and worn out in your garden? Read on....

  • Climate most palms grow in the tropics or mediterranean climates. However it is possible to grow many of them in colder climes depending on what type of palm it is and where it originated from. It is also possible to try and recreate their ideal climate by grouping plants of similar needs together. For instance, I know of many gardeners who have successfully recreated their own rainforests to house their palms.
  • Light when you're planting your palm consider how they would grow in their natural environment. If they love to strive for the light they are most likely sun-lovers whereas if they usually reside in the under-canopy they will most likely prefer filtered light. Do some research on your palm first as the lighting conditions for your palm could make or break their growth.
  • Fertiliser Palms require more minor elements than most other plants so it is best to hunt around for a suitable fertiliser. One advantage of buying a good quality specific palm fertiliser is that the same product can be used to fertilise most of your non-palm garden as well.

    Fertilise your palms once every month from Spring through the end of Summer.


If you're looking for more information on growing palms in your garden take a look at The Palm Shop, The Palm Reader or The Master Gardener Online.






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