We have had a few cool nights (30's and some frost) and the fronds on my palm are yellowing. Should I cut it back or leave it be? I am planning to lay some pinestraw around the roots and watch the weather forecast for future frost warnings.


ETA....adding the picture.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Georgia Peach,

How have you protected it in the past?
I don't know exactly what kind of palm it is, but you could wrap burlap around it. That should help.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mgt,

I received it for Mother's Day so this is my first winter protecting it. I have burlap so I'll use that. Thank you.

I would put pine straw about a foot thick around it. I'd go out at least 2' all the way around.
Not sure what your bug situation is up there but down here putting the burlap around the tree itself just might draw in lots of unwanted little critters...maybe even some mice who would chew on it too.
When we have a freeze and the palms turn down here, I think everyone waits until spring to trim them back. Other wise, you would have a new wound that could freeze the plant down further. I always wait to trim my sago palm when it gets nipped.

Remember that this is a tree, not a shrub. Its just small now. Protect it as best you can and then in the spring trim up.

Burlap attracts mice?

do you know its name?... to me, it looks like Majesty palm and that's a tender tropical and will not survive outside anywhere colder than zone 9.... less than 45 degrees and it's hurt.... if you think that's its name, it needs to come inside or you'll lose it if you're in the wrong zone....

http://www.google.com/imgres?q...0,i:169&tx=61&ty=107

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&s...945&biw=1350&bih=581

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Toots,

Ooooo, Toots is right. If it's a Majesty palm, it won't survive outdoors.

I agree

I believe it is a Majestic palm. Gosh, I should have never planted it in the yard! Where's the shovel?

quote:

Originally posted by muddyshoes:
Burlap attracts mice?

Muddy, we don't get as cold down here as you and we aren't cold as long as you are...yes, down here mice will get into burlap wrapped plants to over winter. I don't think you have that problem up there.

quote:

Originally posted by ga.karen:
...down here mice will get into burlap wrapped plants to over winter. I don't think you have that problem up there.

Even here in the north mice can be a problem. They actually make tunnels under the snow and run around looking for food such as plant stems and roots. I know they go to my roses as the dog often sniffs out that area. Haven't noticed damage from them tho but I'm no longer winterizing my roses partly because I don't want to encourage the mice but mostly because there's a 'tough love' policy now in effect in my garden!

This palm doesn't look like this picture now. The fronds (?sp) are brown but there is green at the roots. I've got pinestraw about a 2' all around it and thick. After looking back through the original post FFG may have answered my question. Should I trim the brown back or leave it until spring?

Leave it until spring. It's hard sometimes to leave things alone but for the health of the plant you can't trim too early.

I agree. It's not pretty, but I'd leave on the brown stuff for added protection & prune it off in the spring.

Thank you. It is rather sad looking but I'm going to leave it. Hopefully it will live. I'm also not cutting back my lantana. I believe this may be the reason some of my plants have died in the past.