Question

palm tree   QUESTION: Would you know how to fix a problem with a palm tree? See attached. the leaves are curling.

ANSWER: Dear Garry, I wish I could help you get your palm tree back to looking like it did, but it looks like the tree has severe problems.  I think it probably suffered badly last year from freezing temperatures and developed crown rot, a deadly condition in palms.  It looks like now the plant is developing side shoots, but the crown is gone.  I think that this probably has a lot to do with your location.  Just getting a palm tree to survive to this size takes a lot of luck and time.  Even if you cut the palm back, it probably would grow from several offshoots at the top rather than one main stem.  Since the leaves are also so curly, there may be an associated insect pest, aphids or something else that might be attracted to the weakened tree, in which case you can spray with NEEM oil or any other pesticide that you choose.  The only other thing I can think of that would cause this type of damage would be herbicide damage (spraying Roundup) but I doubt that since it is affecting the very top of a palm, and freeze damage is much more likely to affect palm trees in this way.  I wish I had better news for you, but I hope this information helps.  Incidentally, one thing that can sometimes prevent crown rot in palm trees is spraying with a fungicide called Consan 20, if you can still find it, several times a few weeks apart starting in late autumn about a month before freezing weather.  However, with very hard freezes, it is almost impossible to prevent.  Melissa

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QUESTION: Do you think it could survive or should I cut it down? I do not want to give up on it if it has a chance to live.
Thanks for your help,
Garry

Answer
Dear Garry, While your palm tree will never look "normal", it might still be an interesting specimen tree, so long as it stays relatively healthy.  For me, I generally will let a plant live unless it becomes severely infested with bugs, or it begins to rot.  Keep an eye out for aphids, mites, and other pests, especially around the curling leaves.  If you do get bugs, then go ahead and spray it, but if it seems that you are constantly spraying, then the tree is ready to be cut down.  Likewise, if it begins to show signs of rot at the top or along the trunk, then I would definitely cut it down.  After the winter is over would be a good time to decide on this, because the tree may not make it through the cold freezes.  Good luck, Melissa