Planting a palm tree
The palm tree has an inverted vegetative cycle, compared to traditional plants; that is to say that it rests in summer. This characteristic allows it to be resistant to heat and drought in semi-arid regions. It is therefore during this period that we proceed to the planting of palms. The summer temperatures will be, moreover, an asset for the development of the roots.
To accentuate this heat effect, it is advisable to add well decomposed manure to the planting pit (fresh manure would burn the roots).
It is also important to bind the palms together: this is to limit the transpiration of the plant during the first year.
Maintaining the palm tree
Pruning the fruits
When the fruits appear, it is advisable to remove them so that their development does not exhaust the plant. This operation should be carried out regularly.
Pruning the palms
The trunk of the palm tree, called stipe, is actually a succession of old pruned palms. They can be cut more or less short depending on the variety or the climate; the drooping palms protect the stipe from the cold, but on small trees they quickly become cumbersome.
Consequences of pruning on the hardiness of palms
To give the palm tree extra protection against the cold, it is recommended to gather and tie the palms every winter. This protects the heart at the top of the stipe.
With this method, the hemp palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) can withstand temperatures between -18°C and -21°C. But for palms like washingtonias, which are less hardy, it is better to leave the old palms hanging around the stipe to protect it.
