[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[dept56 at npgcable.com]

Gary Andrews
86406
dept56 at npgcable.com

Hi
   I have 3 southwestern type palms planted in a row here in Lake Havasu. I would like to keep them at semi the same height. It appears that one is growing significantly faster than the others. They stated out at about 4 feet 4 years ago and are now about 8 feet for one and 6 feet each for the other two. I completely shut off the water on the one that seemed to be growing faster than the other two about 1 1/2 years ago. It seems to have found its own water source. Probably from the surrounding plants. I have tried to increase growth on the other two by increasing water and fertilizing. Possibly the amount of PH or the rock immediately underground may be a difference. Anyway in a nutshell all I decided to do is stunt the growth on the fast growing one. I could either cut off a bunch of the palm fronds and keep them cut off but I would prefer to try and spray something on the fronds to prohibit or slow the growth. I could use a little at first for a few months and if it has no effect then I could increase the dosage. Can you suggest some sort of chemical spray that would be readily available from walmart that may retard the photosynthesis process and slow growth. I thought possibly a little green paint, isopropal alcohol, weed killer or some other such product that would slow but not kill the plant. Do you have any thoughts on the matter?  Thanks a bunch for your help, Gary