washingtonia robusta no longer robust

With a heavy heart (and pulled chest muscle), I dug up a washingtonia earlier this evening that was in decline from root rot. It was a 7' beauty when I bought it last April from HD. The inner fronds had rust streaks and rot - and it was planted in an area that didn't drain adequately. This has become an annual problem ( the rust and rot on the inner fronds and spear) on a few of my pindo's and european fan palms too, but they outgrow it by mid summer. I have numerous others that stay healthy. Several years ago, a local nursery owner told me to treat my sick palms with a solution of water and bleach, which I did earlier today. Anybody else experiencing these problems?

I bought two thousand dollars worth at Home Depo two years ago,these were reall great looking palms,planted half at the beach Emerald Isle the other half in New Bern N C,the washingtonia all lost their fronds,but most came back ,the ones at the beach seem to survive better the ones in New Bern, lasted one year but this year they really look dead,Home Depo did stand by the ones that dident make it the first year,all my other palms at the beach have done well,pindo/needel,european fan palms,and i tried seven nice canary island palms and the came through the winter great,you might want to try them,Iguess in zone 8 we are just pushing it. All my sagoes have to be cut back but they always comr back strong, epson salt seems to help.I use epson salt,amonia,beer mixture and also palm fert,from lowes to help them out,so yes ive experience the same problems you do,LOL Hoitider

I've noticed that out of zone palms must be planted on very well drained soil to survive here. I have 2 washingtonias planted in sand that are fine. Also, they must not be exposed to water sprinklers, or they will develop crown rot. I've also noticed that my CIDP is cold hardier than my sylvester palms, which I protect 2 mos each winter. According to DG plantfiles, medjool date palms (phoenix dactylifera) are the cold hardiest date palm (zone 8b) . Medjools were the first large dates installed down in the Bluffton area many years ago, and I think they would perform best for my area. I could kick myself because I can't find my receipt for a refund at HD. Oh well, ya win some and ya lose some.

Donna, you might be interested in the Southeast Palm Society. Lots of good info there and they have a great little journal that comes out 4 times a year.

http://www.sepalms.org/

Thanks, Ardesia. I just went to the link you provided and joined. After visiting Brookgreen Gardens last week (last time I was there I was teenager), I was struck at how beautifully tropical the reliable zone 8a palms appear in mass plantings. If I lose any more marginal palms, I'm going to replace them with zone 8a palms. I also went gaga over a Japanese blue oak on their grounds - what a beautiful evergreen oak!

Hmmm, I m going to have to check out that oak, I don't believe I have ever noticed it.

Ardesia, I wish I could tell you the exact location of the blue oak, but I can't remember. I do remember it's not off the beaten path and it is marked with a placard.

I'll find it. :-)