Protecting Palm Trees In Winter

Palm species vary greatly in their sensitivity to cold. As mentioned, some palms can handle temperatures in the high teens for short periods, while others are damaged when temperatures hit 45°F. Know the freezing patterns of your region and make sure to buy a palm that can handle it.

Protecting your palm from cold damage can be simple. If you have a cold-sensitive palm, plant it in a warm microclimate, such as behind a windbreak or in a sheltered courtyard. This will protect it from the chill of winter winds. You can also take potted palms indoors before freezing temperatures arrive. If the palm is too heavy to move, drape a lightweight blanket or sheet over your palm to trap heat inside and keep your plant 4 or 5 degrees warmer than the air.

If your area expects unusually cold temperaturehttps://www.goodbonsai.com/Pr_index_gci_109.htmls, protect your palm with an outdoor propane heater, while keeping the heater far enough from the palm to prevent burns. You may also water the soil around the palm prior to a cold snap; moist soil stays warm longer because water loses heat less rapidly than dry soil. Take care to keep water off the palm—when water freezes on the palm, it causes damage to the plant tissues below.