Question
I live in Huntington Beach, CA and have 2 30+ foot King Palms, which are about 10-12 years old. About a year ago I started noticing on one of them that it appears as if the "leaves" on the fronds are getting "eaten". The fronds have sections were the "leaves" are stubbles but then the tips are full and green. Others have brown and dried-out, shrivelled "leaves". I live a few miles from the ocean and we get quite a bit of wind, to which I attributed some of the dried out leaves, but now have my doubts. The palms are fertilized with magnesium twice a year, so I don't think that is an issue. Could it be some kind of insect pest or fungus. I cannot find any indication of either. The trunks look healthy, with the exception of a brown dry stain on the trunk of one of them. The second palm is now starting to show "dry leaves as well, but has no "stubble leaves" yet. Any clue? I can send pix, if you give me an emaiol address to send them to. Thanks, I'm at a loss.

Answer
Hi Birger, these palms need a well balanced palm fertilizer,not just magnesium sulfate, they need manganese sulfate, nitrogen, iron etc. all the micro and macro nutrients; what you are seeing is called "frizzle top" and it is a nutrient deficiency. Give it a good, proper fertilizing and in about a month you should see improvement. Nick