How to Plant Palm Trees - Essential Best Practices

What method will you use to know how to plant palm trees?

• Planting a palm purchased From a Nursery for Transplanting.
• Planting a palm by Starting From Seed.
• Planting a palm from Other Propagation Methods

Before digging, consider your palm’s future size.

Palms can grow tall and/or wide, depending on the species. Give them enough space away from buildings, fences, and pathways. To help you avoid costly mistakes later.

• Planting a palm tree near a house is generally not a good idea.
• Think about how this plant will enhance your landscape.
• Have you thought about Advance Plans for your planting arrangement?

Poor Planning when this palm was placed too near the homes.

Even if you live outside the tropics or subtropics, palms can still work.

We've seen palms growing in tough places - like New Jersey, Norway, Germany etc.

• Know your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone before planting. Find It By Your Zip Code.
• Choose Cold-Hardy Varieties, which could work for you.
• Then be ready to Protect Young Palms From Frost. Once they're well established it's not so much of a worry.

Adult Windmill Palm looking fine in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

What month do you plant palm trees into a new location?

Timing affects the foundation for a successful palm.

• In tropical zones, you can plant year-round. Just avoid planting palm trees during cold snaps.
• Elsewhere, aim for late spring through early fall. Your palm needs time to root well before winter.

Winter is a No-No for palm planting
Except for the tropics

Palms usually love lots of sunlight.

Choose a location with six or more hours of direct sun daily. It depends on the sunlight needs of various palm tree types.

• Watch for varieties that prefers less sun, getting more hours of partial shade. To plant in a shadier location.
• Watch for varieties that naturally grow under shady tall plants. These are often native to rainforests. For when you want to plant on the north side of your home.

Young palms often need temporary sun protection in hot climates. Set them up with a shade cloth.

How deep should you dig for a new palm?

A common question. Doing this correctly is important.

• Dig a hole twice as wide as the palm's container.
• The root ball should sit at the same depth as it did in the container.
• Never plant too deep - that can damage roots and prevent essential new roots from growing.

Once your hole is dug, no undrained water should be seen.

Don't plant too shallow either.

Place your palm gently into the hole. Make sure the root ball is firmly in contact with the soil at the bottom of the hole.

Add fill using the soil you'd dug out. Tamp down as you go to remove air pockets that prevent new root growth.

After planting, the soil often settles.

• Do you see root shoots growing from the root initiation zone?
• Do you see roots above the container soil line?
• Do you see how you can cover these roots with soil?

New roots grow from the palm's root initiation zone.

Continue watering the soil regularly to keep it moist.

Being careful that it's not over-drenched. No leaf water spray is needed & could even be harmful. Water sitting in frond crevices could encourage fungal attack.

Stick with that timetable for its first 4-6 months post planting. As your palm grows, it focuses its energy on growing new roots. Then you can adjust to a Normal Palm Watering To-Do List.

While this is happening, you won't see much, if any, new growth. Fronds will be secondary to roots during this beginning of establishment.

Enhance your yard by pairing your palm

• With companion plants.
• With nighttime lighting.

Smaller, complementary plants add interest and balance to your design. Cycads work well, as they're slow-growing, usually in similar growing zones to yours, and have that tropical look.

Cycads are a popular choice to use in palm landscaping.