How to Care for Coconut Palm Trees

Coconut palms thrive in tropical climates.

The coconut palm is a member of the Palmaceae plant family. While the exact origin of this tree is unknown, coconut palms grow throughout many tropical regions, including the southernmost United States. Coconut palms may grow as tall as 100 feet. The nuts begin to form when the trees reach about five to six years of age. With proper care, your coconut palm may live to be 80 or 90 years old.

Things You'll Need

• Soil test kit
• Compost
• Garden tiller
• Granulated palm fertilizer
• Foxetyl-Al or metalaxyl

Instructions

1. Plant a new coconut palm in a sunny location in your tropical landscape. The best time to plant is during the rainy, warm months of summer. Test the soil prior to planting to determine the existing level of nutrients. Coconut palms tolerate a broad range of soils but require pH levels between 5.0 and 8.0. Follow the instructions included with the results of your soil test to amend the soil, if necessary.

2. Incorporate vegetative compost into compact, clay soils to improve the porosity. Coconut palms require well-drained soil. Spread a 4-inch layer of compost over the surface of the soil in your selected planting site. Mix the compost into the top 8 to 10 inches of topsoil with a garden tiller. Pull out any uprooted plants and groundcovers from the tilled soil. Plant the palm level with the surrounding surface, keeping the top of the rootball level.

3. Apply water whenever the soil begins to feel dry to the touch. Although coconut palms can tolerate mild droughts, they grow best under moist conditions. During each watering session, allow a slow stream of water to soak the soil to the depths of the roots.

4. Feed your palm trees every two or three months. Fertilize the soil beneath the canopy of your tree. On mature palms, this usually equals about 475 square feet of soil. Use a rotary seed and fertilizer spreader to spread about 1.5 lbs. of granulated palm fertilizer for every 100 square foot of surface soil.

5. Check your palm tree for signs of pest and diseases. Look for yellowing leaves that start near the lower part of the canopy and extend to the crown. This is often a sign of phytoplasma infestation. Watch for bud rot that causes brown spots and withering in new leaves. Treat your affected tree with a foliar spray that contains fosetyl-Al or a soil drench that supplies metalaxyl. Follow the manufacturer's instructions when applying these treatments.

References

• "Union County College; Coconut Palm; Dr. T. Ombrello
• "The Coconut Palm in Florida"; Timothy K. Broschat and Jonathan H. Crane
• "Botanica's Gardening Encyclopedia"; Susan Page; 2001