Palm Tree Care in Winter

Palm tree care in winter helps ensure that your tropical palms continue prospering.

Just as people who live in colder climates prepare their cars & trucks with antifreeze and snow tires for winter conditions, palm tree growers should prepare their palms for unexpected freezing weather.

Maybe last year your palm endured harsh, frosty weather. So now you're looking ahead, as your treasured palm tree again faces the cold. The fear of repeating any past mistakes has you shivering in your boots!

We know it can feel intimidating, especially if you live where winters are unpredictable. Learn how you can protect palms in wintertime, to ease your concerns.

Why Winter Palm Care Matters

Even in mild climates, freezing periods challenge many palms.

Cold temperatures, frost, and reduced sunlight are not natural for palms. If a Palm Tree Gets Freeze Injury they're exposed to further damage from disease.

When chilly months have come along, your palm might show changes:

• Leaves get dark brown or black patches covering or nearly covering the leaf.
• Reddish of yellow blotches appear on leaf surfaces.
• Upper trunk areas get soft sunken spots.

Most important, these injuries could even lead to death.

But there is good news. You can prepare for the season's frostiness by knowing your plant's ability to withstand the cold (some much more than others!). And then have your protection ready before temperatures plunge.

Winter care in advance saves you from costly replacement or worrisome treatment efforts later.

Why Prevention is Best for Palm Winter Care

These naturally tropical plants will be sensitive to cold weather. As an Outdoor Palm Tree, you can see to it that it gets through the winter months just fine.

Use these steps to review the specific needs of your Palm Tree Species to help protect it against the cold.

• To begin, Identify Your Palm Species. Each palm has particular needs and distinct levels of cold tolerance. 
• Next, Find Out Your Own USDA Zone. 
• What is the coldest temperature listed for your zone? That tells you the estimated lowest temperature your plant may tolerate.
• Then use Tropical Palm Guidance to see the appropriate zones, or lowest temperature you palm can endure.

Review these specifics for your best preventative measures.

• Does the species have any cold tolerance at all?
• Is it a species that's known to recover from frigid injury?
• What are the lowest temps it tolerates?

Yet temperature distress alone isn't the only condition affecting palms in winter. Think about these situations:

• How old is your palm? Those up to about three years old, are the most endangered by cold. No matter the species. The older the palm, the more resistance it will have.
• How long your palm was exposed to frost?
• Did this winter storm bring whipping, drying winds?
• Was the soil exposed (no blanketing snowfall) causing below freezing temps around the roots?

A great prevention is to Give Your Palm Species Good Care! Be sure they have had the Nutrients They Need, as that gives them a survival boost.

DO YOU GET ALL FOUR SEASONS? WITH SOME FROSTY DAYS IN WINTER?

Not much research is available about temperature-related effects on all palm trees.

One study does involve assorted species. It aimed to discover temps that harmed palm parts, and/or led to death. Some common mature palms' results were:

These Windmill Palms survive Vancouver BC Canada's freezing periods.

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Mulching for Cold Protection

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Lay down a thick mulch layer around the base of the palm to insulate the roots: choose from Organic Mulch, wood chips, or straw.

But don't let the mulch touch the trunk, which could also cause damage. Mulch helps the the soil stay warmer in winter cold, which protects the roots.

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Assorted Frost Covers Help Plants Stay Safe in Winter

Although These Aren't Palms, Frost Cloth Around the Plant Adds More Protection
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What else can you do with palms in the winter?

Use Frost Cloth, or Burlap, or Plastic Sheeting to cover the palm. A protective barrier helps defend the palm from cold winds and frost. To keep it safe.

Well-Wrapped With Its Winter Coat!
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Windbreaks Provide Palm Tree Care in Winter

Consider installing windbreaks to shield the palm: use Natural Fences, Artificial Barriers, or plant hardy shrubs to calm the wind.

Harsh winds from cold fronts are very drying. Which worsens cold damage weakness.

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Bushy Shrubs Planted in Front of Palms as a Windbreak

If you live in a colder area, and want to plant a palm - our steps will also help. Choose a palm that's suitable for your area. For some great tips on that, we recommend David A. Francko's "Palms Won't Grow Here and other myths: Warmer-climate plants for cooler areas." You can find it on Amazon.

While these methods give surface-level protection, you may hear about advanced or commercial techniques. But proceed with caution. Let's see why.

Beyond Nursery Tricks: 
Safe Palm Protection Strategies for Homeowners

Commercial plant nurseries sometimes use techniques for winter care and protection.

You may have heard of some. We're letting you in on these for full disclosure of methods.

Do Commercial Nurseries Have Good Tricks?

Hidden Risks of Cold Snap Nursery Techniques

Palm lovers living in colder climates look for any way that could help in giving good palm tree care in winter.

Certain nurseries support water stressing palms for cold weather safe keeping. By cutting back on normal watering schedules.

They may note one study, where Windmill Palms showed a slight increase in cold tolerance after experiencing water stress. But there's little further research on this practice. It's risky to apply what's happened with one species to all other species.

Because evidence is limited, we recommend staying with well tested methods like mulching, wrapping, and windbreaks. They're the reasonable choice for homeowners.

Other Nursery Practices to Help Palm Trees Overwinter

Some nurseries use an icing technique that seems to work, when done properly.

It takes planning. Overhead watering must be done before the freeze sets in. Once that's happened, this irrigation must be continued.

This is a demanding project for homeowners. Safe, straightforward methods like mulch, covers and wind-blocking are easier for protecting these tropical plants from freezes.

Plus, this practice risks structural damage.

• The ice weight can break off leaves, and cause drooping in others.
• Freeze injury can happen, provoking fungal attack and frond death. 
• Another risk is serious harm that can lead to your palm's death.

Rather than risk ice damage, use our simpler, safer methods for protection.

Will Chemical Methods Work?

Some nurseries have tried using Antitranspirant Chemicals.

These chemicals cause the tiny leaf openings to close.

• This hurts the movement of water through a palm's vessels.
• That prevents moisture exhalation, which is needed.
• Those frond surface openings absorb carbon dioxide, while giving off oxygen. The openings are needed for that.

So far studies have not supported this process. Can that method be good for a palm's health? We don't recommend any of these commercial practices for homes with palms.

Cold Damage Symptoms

Suspicion of cold or freezing damage can be noted and confirmed by signs or symptoms.

Watch the leaves after temperatures are near freezing.

• Watch for the symptoms: 

1. Blackening/browning fronds.
2. Yellow or reddish spots scattered over the leaf surface.

• Some palm species tolerate temperatures that go below freezing for a short time.
• Other palms show cold damage at much higher temperatures. As high as 50^oF/10^oC!

You might see frost damage signs on all but the newest Palm Tree Parts.

The most cold resistant areas are the heart (thank goodness, as that's the growing point!) and leaf stems (petioles). The most sensitive areas are bases of newest fronds that haven't yet opened, roots (especially tips) & flowers.

If a palm endures lengthy freezing, the trunk can be damaged. Usually leading to death.

• Several months later, you'll note soft, sunken, reddish areas.
• This results from fungi or bacteria entering through the weakened area.

What if You See Freeze Damage on Palms?

It's essential to react within the first couple of weeks.

• If a new unopened leaf is damaged, don't let moisture puddle at its base. That invites fungal problems.
• While cold weather is still possible, let dead leaves stay as they provide insulation. Definitely don't Prune Palm Leaves, or parts still showing any green.
• See all needed actions to Care For Freeze-Damaged Palms.

Some species seem to die after freezing weather. But wait! If the palm's heart wasn't injured, the plant can regrow. Therefore, give dead-looking palms some patience.

Benefits of Using Palm Tree Care in Winter

Taking the steps we've suggested will give you and your palm several benefits:

Healthier Palm Growth

Proper palm tree care in winter care carries your palm into the spring for continued top form. Its foliage will continue lush & vibrant. Being ready for new growth that comes along this coming year.

Increased Confidence

Now that you've gained this knowledge about palm care for winter, your self-assurance gets a boost. You'll feel unperturbed with facing future winters.

Cost Savings

When preventing winter damage, the need for expensive treatments or replacements is about entirely gone. You'll save money in the long run.

Enhanced Curb Appeal

A luxuriant palm lifts the entire aesthetic of your property. You'll continue admiring its tropical attractiveness, with the potential for increased home value.

Takeaways for Palm Tree Care in Winter

When thinking back on last winter’s challenges, it sparked this realization: understanding the specific needs of your palm could prevent future damage.

This "Ah-Ha" moment led you to equipping yourself with the right information. Now you can transform winter from a season of stress to one of success and calm. Embrace the winter with confidence, knowing that your tropicals are well-protected.

By understanding and using the right palm tree care in winter, you can remake cold seasons from an awful time of injury into one of healthy survival.

Your palms will not only survive those frosty months, but emerge strengthened.