Question
I have a 4-trunked pygmy palm in my southern California yard that was planted 8 years ago.  It appears to be losing one of its trunks where the fronds have withered and died.  I'm not sure if the trunk will be capable of sprouting new fronds again?  The other 3 trunks look okay and I hope they stay healthy.  Should I be concerned that the tree possibly has a disease I should be treating so it doesn't die?  Should I saw the bad trunk off next spring if no fronds have grown back by then?

Answer
Hi Annette, this is actually a common occurrence with multiple trunk palms, especially Pygmy Dates; the usual result is excising the dying one from the healthy ones. There isn't anything you can do, giving the fact that they others are healthy; this tells me that the palm is getting adequate nutrients and irrigation...I would watch the dying one and if it doesn't show any signs of turning positive for you, cut it at soil level and discard. Nick