Posted by Randy Johnson, Gadsden, AL I'm hoping for some insight on what may have happened to my nice Trachycarpus Fortunei between the time I set it out in March and today. http://home.comcast.net/~carol.s.johnson/Palm_0307.JPG [IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~carol.s.johnson/Palm_0907.JPG [IMG] http://home.comcast.net/~carol.s.johnson/Palm_1007.JPG [IMG] I know the 90-degree-plus heat we experienced must have played a big role, and the drought certainly didn't help. The only thing I can conclude is that when I cut the long, twice a week hose soakings I gave it from May through July down to once a week during August and September, it dried out too much. It is planted on a slight grade at about the same depth as it was in its pot. The soil is somewhat clay and I didn't over-amend it. I put about two inches of small rocks in the bottom of the hole, then potting soil mixed with the dirt I dug out. I added a sprinkle of 12-4-12 timed release fertilizer, set the tree in and then back-filled with another layer of soil. I added another handful of the palm fertilizer around the perimeter at about 9" deep, filled the hole level and topped with cedar mulch. Since the last picture, I've only watered it once. We got a little rain earlier in the week and the soil still shows "wet" using a Wal-Mart moisture meter. I don't want to over-water it. The longest new fronds are brittle on the ends. I'm concerned about its weakened condition, especially this time of the year. As you can see in the last picture, the new growth is green, although not as dark green as it was when I first set it out. My main concern is whether it appears to be recovering and/or if there's anything else I should do other than to give it a little added protection during cold snaps and hope for a springtime resurgence. Any help is very appreciated.
on October 21, 2007, 12:47 am
69.244.22.65
Hello,
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