Will Foxtail Palms survive the cold weather in Palm Coast?

Answer:

Regarding your question about Foxtail palms surviving the cold, I like to be safe and say no. They are not zoned for this area and are more of a down south palm. Unfortunately, you just never know what type of winter we are going to have. If it is a mild winter and you happen to live near the intercoastal or beachside, they may survive but it is a coin toss. If we have a winter like last years, they are going to be the first to go. We occasionally sell them but always tell people be prepared to lose them.

Rain, Rain…Go Away

Rain Rain…Go away. What an odd thing to say when it seems like the drought period we’ve been going through has gone on forever. Many of us have planted drought tolerant plants to cope. Now that we have had a steady deluge of rain for days on end, you may be wondering, what should I be looking for in my landscape? Below are a few pointers on what to look for and what to do once Mother Nature lets you outside again.

Fungus, Bacteria and Disease

When homeowners scout their landscape they may find a host of issues with which to contend. Moisture, especially during night hours, completes the necessary triangle between host, plant and pathogen creating a conduit for disease to travel. Plants have pores called stoma. When pathogens such as fungi or bacteria blow through the air during heavy winds and land on a plant when it is wet, the disease travels into the plants vascular system. This direct path may cause leaf spot, root rot, rust spots, mushrooms, and/or complete cellular collapse. Signs may be detected a few days after rain or as quickly as overnight.

Treatment and Protection

To minimize or halt damage from heavy moisture, look for ways to create air circulation by pulling back mulch, especially from drought tolerant plants to prevent root rot on bird of paradise and Canna Lily. Some plants prone to rust spot such as Dianella flax lily, Aztec grass, and Ti plant will benefit from a treatment of a broad spectrum fungicide available at VerdeGo. Many plants suffer from leaf spot most evident on green Ligustrum from overnight irrigation schedules and nighttime rain. This is easily detected on the leaf characterized by a yellow halo and brown spot in the middle. The disease passes through the leaf and drips on the leaf below it compounding the damage. The plant can recover during the dry season when new growth appears but infection can be minimized with several applications of horticultural oil to the top and bottom of the leaf during the cool of the day by creating a protective coating.

Fertilization & Irrigation

Avoid the urge to fertilize ailing plants. Fertilizing will encouraging them to grow while recovering, throwing them into further distress and possible plant death. We are nearing the next quarterly fertilization period in June, which is doubly important now because the heavy rains have washed away so much of the nutrients in the soil.

Most importantly, when you scout your yard, remove damaged plant material. Dispose of all plant material in the trash, not the compost pile. If you must trim, be sure to clean your pruning tools with an anti-bacterial wipe or rubbing alcohol so as not to spread pathogens from plant to plant infecting the entire landscape. Wipe your gloves clean as well.

Lastly, take your irrigation system for a test drive, make sure the rain sensor is keeping it from engaging. Unless we go back to a period of extreme drought, it will take your plants several weeks to dry out and the water table in the soil to recede. If you are unsure, VerdeGo has and Irrigation Technician on staff who can check this for you.