Question
QUESTION: I am not sure the exact type palm,it looks like a coconut palm but has like berries it grows.The problem is a fungus type growing at the base by the ground its white underside brown top grows large and is hard to the touch.all branches have died except the center. A friend said that he seen that same fungus before and all his palms died, how do I kill it.

ANSWER: Hi Chris, its probably a Queen Palm and the mushroom type growth at the bottom is called Ganoderma, its a lethal disease and there isn't anything you can do about it but remove the palm; is the growth at the bottom mushroom like? you must be sure of that before taking this drastic measure. Nick

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QUESTION: Hi Nick, Yes it is mushroom like, when I remove it-it grows back real fast.Can I cut the tree down at ground level and leave like that or do I have to get the root ball out also. I do not have the money right now to remove the roots but have another tree just like it 7 feet away and a royal palm the same distance away. Can I throw some total vegitation killer on the stump after I cut. Thanks for your time and help.   Chris

Answer
Chris, cut it off at the soil level and don't plant anything else there (palms anyway), Ganoderma usually goes after Queens, so your Royal should be ok, but the Queen is susceptible. There isn't anything you can do, they really don't know a lot about this disease, but it doesn't seem to be contagious from a proximity standpoint. Nick