Question
I recently aquired this palm type tree. It is about 8feet high.  Since I brought it home the leaves starting at the bottom have been turning yellow.  I have watered it and it is a little moist. The tree has a moss base and is near the window on the west side of the house.  I am baffled could you please give me some advice. I e-mailed you some pictures.

Answer
Darren,

To begin with you do not have a palm tree you have a yucca plant from the desert, It is not getting enough sun and sounds like it is probably getting too much water. First remove all the moss from the surface of the soil so you can telll whether the soil is wet or dry. This time of year it likes to be watered every 2-3 weeks or when it has been bone dry for several days.

In the spring, after April 1st when the days are getting longer remove all the dead drown leaves. Then you can cut the top off the plant abot 14 inches below the lowest green leaf. Dip the base of the trunk in rooting hormone availabe at any garden center, then insert it in the soil beside the old trunk. Set you yucca next to the sunniest sout window you have. The "cutting" will root with in a month and the old trunk will send out several new shoots that will grow compleate new tops. Prune off all but one or two of them and you will then have a pair of yuccas in your pot that will look even more like palm trees. Good luck.

Darlene