Question

Palm tree frost   QUESTION: Please tell me What to do with this Palm tree that is frost damaged. I'm in Charlotte North Carolina. We had temperatures in the low single digits up to the low teens for three or four days with a heavy overcast. Having lost a palm trees before to frost I covered it with plastic.  I was aware of the possibility of burning the fronds but with the heavy overcast I thought I was safe.  Obviously not a smart move, I need to know how to properly take care of it now.
Should I cut the damaged tips off? Should I cut all the fronds off?  I've seen other people do this but I've always been told that was the wrong thing to do.
The tree is healthy and has been well taken care of prior to this.
Thank you for your help and guidance, it is very much appreciated Jerry

ANSWER: Hi Jerry its either a Chinese Fan Palm or a young Washingtonia;(tough to tell with the cold damage...)..but in either case you need to spray the heart (where the fronds emerge.) with a Copper Fungicide and then be patient, "DON'T CUT ANY FRONDS OFF"..keep it properly irrigated (not wet) and let Mother Nature do the rest (for now...). It is cold damaged and stressed, but I see enough green left in the fronds to indicate that the heart is still alive, so new , healthy fronds should begin to emerge as the weather gets warmer. The Copper fungicide is to prevent the onset of fungal problems, being in its weakened state , it is susceptible....Nick

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4-1-11 plalm damage   QUESTION: I have been doing as you suggested. The fronds are continuing to get more brown and less green so we are not making any headway yet. I suppose you will tell me patience and I understand. Is there any additional fertilizer or anything I should be adding to help it gain it's strength back. Probably a dumb question, but would  misting the whole plant with Miracle grow or anything like that help?
What kind of time frame before you would guess we will see any improvement? Do you think these fronds will continue to look like this and only the new ones coming out will look better or will the dead tips die off of these and the green parts continue to feed the plant?
Which palm trees do you recommend in the Charlotte NC area that look good but are hardy enough to take the winter? It you wanted to  plant a couple more around the pool area what would you plant?
Thank you in advance for your help, this is a VERY HELPFUL service. I appreciate your effort very much.
Jerry  

Answer
...the new fronds will continue to brown out, that is expected, what you want to see (eventually) is the new emerging fronds to be healthy; that said, it wouldn't hurt at this point to get a product called "chelated Palm nutritional spray", follow the directions, this will help the palm with a shot of needed micro nutrients, especially Magnesium Sulfate.   This Palm is fine in your climate zone, you just need to take measures next Winter, by placing a flood light attached to the trunk (about half way up..) and turning it on at night when the temps are expected to fall below freezing, this will protect the heart of the Palm. Go to your local nurseries and ask them what they carry for your climate zone; I am not sure of what your zone is, so I am reluctant to recommend any.