Question
QUESTION: Two issues:

Most recently- I have 4 queen palms planted two years ago that have recently become wilted and Turning yellow brown on some large frown.  We recently relaid grass, build small 1 1/2 foot planter walls in front of the palms, and put some of the dirt under the old grass in the new planter wall with the queens.  The dirt grew grass but I think it may not be the most fertile.  Would this be effecting the queens?  Should I shave some dirt of the top and mix in top soil geared for palms?

second issue, ever since the queen palms were installed by an old landscaper, they have grown outwards, meaning the frown seem to be to heavy, sagging over, and not growing upward like all my neighbors.  Any thoughts?

ANSWER: Hi, what you have done is cardinal sin number one with palms or trees/bushes, that is cover the junction where the trunk meets the soil; when you buy a container specimen and plant it, its imperative that it is planted at the same level as it was in the pot, not even two inches lower! from what you have depicted, your new landscaping may have covered this sacred area and now that junction is under soil and the palm is declining, clear any soil or grass away from that junction (trunk/root), this is important! The second issue sounds like a weakness in the trunk where the crown developed, due to possible lack of nutrients; I advise you to contact your local Cooperative Extension Service, and speak with a Master Gardner there, who may possibly be able to arrange to come out and take a look. Nick

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QUESTION: It looks like new frones are coming through the middle so that is a good sign.  I will remove the excess dirt.   What nutrients are best to help rejuvenate the crown development?

ANSWER: its hard to tell without actually seeing the deformation, what I am going on is the possibility that the trunk near the crown weakened due to lack of proper nutrients and the crown sagged; a well balanced "palm" fertilizer needs to be applied 4 times a year at the rate of one pound per inch of trunk, and spread evenly from the drip line in, the drip line being the outermost frond. Nick

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QUESTION: It is funny, I walked my dogs after our first conversation and noticed every palm in my neighbor was the same as mine.  I went out to Home Depot and ran into a person not an employee who seemed knowledgable on Palms.  She mentioned that the weird California weather is what has caused the wilting and yellow brown color and told me what you just said about nutrients 4 times a year.  I bought the vigor palm nutrient spikes and skimmed 2-3 inches of dirt out of the planter bed until I could see the top of the bulb of the palm.  I drove three spikes around each tree about 2 feet from the base and then put a 1-2 inch soil/mulch on top.  hopefully that will help.  thanks for you help and quick response.  I will use this site again.

Answer
...I'm just telling what I know, and that is spikes won't cut it, the reason being, is that there are numerous primary and secondary roots and they need to be in contact with the nutrients; granular is what you need to contact all these roots, spikes will only contact the ones they are adjacent too; please get yourself some granular and spread it evenly at the rate of 1lb per inch of trunk...good luck Nick