5 Ways Palm Tree Injections Help Your Trees Thrive

If you’re squeamish about shots, hang in there. The needle part of our time together will last just a minute. 

We’re talking about palm tree injections, and the great stuff they can do for your precious palm trees.

It’s no secret palms aren’t cheap. You want to take the best care of them possible.

How can palm tree injections help your palm trees thrive? So many ways. 

We’ll get the needle part over fast, we promise.

First, How Do Palm Tree Injections Work? 

Injecting fertilizer or pest control directly into the trunk of a palm tree delivers the help it needs faster than applying it into the soil around the tree.

It’s like when you get a shot of medicine rather than taking a pill. It goes right to work. 

Once it’s injected into the trunk, fertilizer or pest control is quickly taken up by the tree’s vascular system and distributed throughout the tree.

It’s great for both controlling pests and for palm tree fertilization, invigorating palms with nutrients.

Palm tree injections are long lasting. The treatment doesn’t wash away in the rain because it’s inside the tree. Pesticides are only applied directly to the tree, so no chemicals will run off in rain storms and affect the environment. 

A needle delivers the injections through a rubber plug inserted into the trunk. The plug seals the drilled hole, so the tree isn’t vulnerable to infection. 

That concludes the needle part of this conversation, if you’d like to resume breathing. 

So, how do these palm tree injections help your palms?

1. Palm Tree Fertilization 

Palm trees need a granular, slow-release fertilizer applied to the ground around their trunks four times a year to ensure they get a constant supply of nutrients over time. That gives them the nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium they need to thrive. 

But many palm tree species need larger amounts of magnesium, manganese, potassium, sulfur and iron. Without enough of these vital nutrients your palms can become yellowish and unhealthy looking.

Traditional fertilizers need to dissolve into the soil then be taken up by the tree. When they’re directly injected into the trunk, the tree fertilization nutrients are immediately available to the tree, resulting in a green, healthy palm much faster than regular fertilizer.

2. Prevent Dastardly Weevils 

Even the word weevil kind of gives you the creeps, right? Imagine how your palm trees feel when the little creeps with their big snouts start munching on their beautiful fronds. 

Adult weevils chew and devour palm fronds, then the females chew a hole into palm tissue and lay eggs in the hole. Each female lays several dozen to a few hundred eggs, then when they hatch, the weevil babies start chowing down.

Silver Bismarck palms and Canary Island date palms are especially appealing to these ravenous pests.

Both of these stunning palm varieties are pretty pricey. It’s well worth the $300 cost for palm tree injections to prevent destructive weevils. 

3. Say Bye to Whitefly 

Coconut palms in particular are often attacked by spiraling whiteflies. 

A spiraling whitefly sounds kind of fun, like some kind of impressive circus acrobat.

It’s not fun.

Spiraling whiteflies feed on fluid from the palm tree and produce honeydew, a sticky material on the underside of the leaves that sounds way better than it is. It’s actually the spiraling whitefly’s poop.

The sticky substance interferes with photosynthesis, causing plant growth to slow and leaves to drop.

How do you know if whiteflies are on your palms?

Do you see white waxy material covering the leaves of your palm trees? You likely have an whitefly infestation. Another sign: 
white spiraling patterns on the undersides of the palm leaves.

The best way to control this damaging pest is through palm tree injections. 

4. Boost Nutrition in Poor Soil 

New housing developments here in Sarasota usually build on clay soil brought in to create a more stable foundation for building than our native sandy soil.

But clay is thick and compacted, locking up the nutrients, preventing them from getting to your hungry palms. 

Palm tree injections give a nutrient boost that goes straight to work. 

5. Love Shells? Your Palm Might Hate Them

Maybe you love the tropical look of seashells as a ground cover surrounding your palm. Shells are basically lime. If it’s a native palm, no big deal. They’re used to it. But non-native palms don’t like that extra lime. It changes the pH of the soil. Palm tree injections can help. 

Do Your Palms Need a Boost with Palm Tree Injections? Talk to Us 

Your precious palms aren’t just the centerpiece of your impressive landscaping — they’re a big investment.

Don’t let villainous weevils, whiteflies or poor nutrition damage their health.

Our plant health care services in Sarasota   include palm tree injections to keep your palms protected, healthy and thriving. 

Got weevils? Worried about whiteflies? Can you practically hear your hungry palms asking for food? 

We’ll help you figure it all out. 

Give us a call or fill out our form today! Our team of Sarasota designers can’t wait to help you with your lawn for your home or vacation rental property.