Pacific Northwest Garden Forum: Sugar palm?

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   We moved about a year ago and have spent much of that time trying to catch up on the yard work that hadn't been done here in some time.  There was clearly nice gardening at one time that has not been attended to in years.  Anyway.  

There's a small palm tree (I was told it's a sugar palm, but I have no idea) in a fairly shaded area in the front yard.  It gets some sun in the afternoon, but that's about it.  Last fall, my husband decided to "clean it up a bit" and cut off the old "leaves" that were coming from the trunk.  Since then it seems to have died.  The leaves on the top are brown and it looks exactly the same now as it did a year ago, no new growth, etc.  He did leave a bit of those "leaves" as bark all around the tree.  

I just don't know what to do with it.  Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks!

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~~Shannon~~ Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Oct-24-2009 Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills Posts: 14	Topic: Sugar palm? Posted: Nov-07-2009 at 9:52pm
	We moved about a year ago and have spent much of that time trying to catch up on the yard work that hadn't been done here in some time. There was clearly nice gardening at one time that has not been attended to in years. Anyway. There's a small palm tree (I was told it's a sugar palm, but I have no idea) in a fairly shaded area in the front yard. It gets some sun in the afternoon, but that's about it. Last fall, my husband decided to "clean it up a bit" and cut off the old "leaves" that were coming from the trunk. Since then it seems to have died. The leaves on the top are brown and it looks exactly the same now as it did a year ago, no new growth, etc. He did leave a bit of those "leaves" as bark all around the tree. I just don't know what to do with it. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

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Fern Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Mar-11-2005 Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills Posts: 1506	Posted: Nov-08-2009 at 7:27am
	It's dead. It died of cold, not from the pruning. If it was the Dwarf Sugar palm, it's only hardy to about 20 degrees, so it wouldn't live over most winters around here. The Windmill palm, Trachycarpus fortunei, is the only common one that will reliably live over any winter weather we have around here. They even lived over last winter's record cold weather! People do experiment with other species, but that's a whole different subject.
	Fern
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JeanneK Mod Joined: Jul-28-2003 Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Posts: 2174	Posted: Nov-09-2009 at 9:49am
	I second Fern's advice. If you want another palm, get a Trachycarpus Fortunai. Mine came through the heavy foot and a half of snow Portland got last December with no problems what so ever. No burning, not even a broken leaf.
	Jeanne
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greenmann Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Jan-13-2006 Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor Posts: 432	Posted: Nov-18-2009 at 11:52am
	I'll third that advice. Our neighbors have one towering over the fence that has been there for as long as I can remember. It looked rather silly covered in snow, but wasn't overly affected by it. And I agree, the cleanup that you husband did is standard issue for these palms. It was the cold that killed it, not the pruning. It would be interesting to know how old the palm was, if it WAS a sugar palm. People do try them because they can take out milder winters, but we have had enough harder winters over the last few years it would be interesting to know how cold it was able to survive to. Portland also has a few warmer pockets, from what I understand where things like this do better. You may well be in one of those pockets.
	Green Man Gardens design and consulting with a focus on native plants and wildlife habitat
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