My royal palm in my back yard has some problems. The trunk appears injured and is covered with white stuff. What can I do to save the tree? — Dorothy Geisland, Davie
The trunk has mechanical damage about 2 feet from the ground, which the palm cannot heal. The white growth on the trunk could be lichens or a sucking insect like scale or mealy bug. Lichens do not harm the tree and usually are found on royal palm in scattered patches. This white coverage is much more solid so I am inclined to think it is insects. Spray the trunk with Safer’s Insecticidal Soap and re-apply two more times at 10 day intervals. Thorough coverage should smother the insects and eliminate the infestation. Royal palms have soft interiors so the palm will continue to look good and grow but eventually will fall over from the wound on the trunk. I would remove it before it gets much larger.
I recently lost Alexander palms to Ganaderma. What can I plant to replace them? — Bob Wendland, Lighthouse Point
You cannot plant a palm in that area because the fungus is in the soil. You can plant a small tree there that would grow to the same size as the Alexander palms. You might try the silver buttonwood, red jatropha or Bahama tabebuia. Avoid the small tree sennas, hibiscus trees and yellow trumpet tree, as they blow over easily in strong winds and need staking.
I want to plant a small evergreen flowering or shade tree in my back yard. The area receives full sun. I have a Bulnesia tree planted there now but it lost its leaves and has not leafed out yet. I applied phosphorus but no results. I want to replace the Bulnesia with another tree this spring. What do you suggest? — Harvey Kanefsky, Fort Lauderdale
The Bulnesia will probably grow back this spring. My Bulnesia had major leaf drop each year and then leafed out again in the spring. This tree does have brittle wood, can blow over in strong winds and can grow to at least 40 feet in height. I like the silver buttonwood with silvery foliage, or Bahama tabebuia with small white flowers, for a small tree growing to about 20 feet in height.
I have a condo overlooking a nice water setting. The complex owns 50 feet on the other side of the water. Wilma took out many of the tall trees and now we look at the backs of houses. We have mangroves along the edge of the water. Can you suggest a fast growing, salt tolerant flowering or shade tree we can use to screen the view? — Dick Martin, Deerfield Beach
Noronhia and Clusia come to mind for salt tolerance. Clusia has pink or white flowers. Both are good choices but not fast growing. The mangroves can eventually reach 20-30 feet if not pruned. I suggest coconut or sable palms with staggered heights for your height requirements. The sable palms can be grouped with seven to nine plants in a linear planting. Do not prune them and they can make a nice dense planting. They would be the cheapest way to go for height. You can use Maypan or Malayan dwarf coconuts as another option. They are faster growing and have some resistance to lethal yellowing. The gold variety is the most resistant to the lethal yellowing.
I have a honeybell tangelo that produced a good crop of fruit last year. This year the fruit on top is turning from green to yellow. The skin is coarse, rough and brown in color. I fertilize regularly. The tree is thornless. Can you help me with this problem? — John Picarello, Davie
I believe the problem is scab, which is a common problem on tangelos. The scab fungus can affect new growth, foliage and fruit. Copper fungicide treatments are usually recommended for commercial growers. Their fruit has to be perfect to sell. Homeowners can live with the brown rough fruit as only the skin is affected. It is considered cosmetic and the fruit quality should not be affected.
Write Robert Haehle, Lifestyle, Sun Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33301-2293 or e-mail . Include name, address and phone number. Include jpeg photo for plant identification.
