[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

Kristine, These observations are based strictly on personal observations but 
are, I believe, valid. Supporting or controversial opinions welcome, of 
course, that we may all learn from the discourse.

A common problem, I have observed, is irrigating in the wrong place. Many 
add water in a  trench wrapped tightly around the trunk but the feeder roots 
are well outward. Make a shallow trench 12 to 15 inches wide at least two 
feet from the stem. Ideally, water should be applied as far out as the 
fronds extend but the geography often makes that distance impossible or 
impractical.  Add water in the trench until you have about a half inch head 
of water. Adjust the flow to maintain the half inch and continue until you 
have saturated the soil at least three feet deep gauged with a soil probe.

Palms often get water from adjacent beds and that is okay but roots won't go 
through dry soil to reach them..

Some years ago I dug out two queen palms that had died from crown rot. The 
stems went half way to China and it was obvious that the organism would 
suffer with shallow irrigation.

I believe native Arizona soil typically has adequate nutrient but ask your 
nursery for palm food if your trees are puny despite proper watering.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer, U of A Maricopa County Cooperative 
Extension.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <vipse42 at yahoo.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 2:00 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Kristine Ransom
> Chandler 85248, AZ
> vipse42 at yahoo.com
>
> I have several Queen Palms in my yard in Chandler. None of them look very 
> healthy.
> They droop and new shoots are rare.
> What should I add to the soil and where can I find it???
> Thank you for help,
>
> Kristine Ransom
>
>
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