I have a date palm with 4 heads coming up. One of the heads just recently has turned yellow and some of the leaves are withering or shrivling. the rest of the heads are fine and healthy. Any ideas of what this could be and if it is solvable.

 

Terminal bud decay (heart rot) is caused by a fungus. Discoloration of leaves is an early symptom. Leaves will decay.

Spores get splashed from plant to plant and via pruning tools. Spores can survive in soil. If you catch the disease early, you can treat with fungicide. Once bud is affected you can't save the plant.

Avoid severe pruning. Prune only dead leaves. Always disinfect pruning tools after each plant. Remove infected palms immediately. Do not replant in same location. Soil must be well-drained.

Read the following article to determine whether you have phtophthora or thielaviopsis. Diagnosis must be based on the first symptoms exhibited.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:R93NSoZLlxUJrohort.ifas.ufl.edu/pubs/PalmDiseasesSummary.PDF+pygmy+date+palm+disease&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=us

 

Can you repost the link

 

Try this one: http://prohort.ifas.ufl.edu/pubs/PalmDiseasesSummary.PDF

 

Thanks for the help. Will it be easy to remove one of the palms as they are clustered together in a group of 4. I hope I can do this without removing the entire clump. It has been growing for almost 4 years now.

It seems as only the leaves are, effected can I cut all the leaves off and eventually the trunk will die and be easy to pull out. As I said before I relly want to save the rest of the tree.

Also, should I spray with a fungacide, as a preventative measure. If so, can you recommend any?

 

If wanting to save the tree, contact an arborist. Moving the palm would place additional stress on it while it is already stressed with disease. Because the fungus spreads so easily via spores, it is likely the other parts of the tree are affected as well. Not all chemicals are available in all areas. You Cooperative Extension Agent or arborist can advise you what is available in your area. The link to the article provided recommendations for fungicides for phtophthora and thielaviopsis.

Are you sure it's Phoenix roebelinii? They have solitary trunks, I believe. Phoenix dactylifera and Phoenix reclinata are clumping date palms.

Leaves that are dead or have begun to yellow should be removed.

 

Is there any chance my problem could be fertalizer burn. I just put down some granual fert. a couple weeks ago. THat could be the reason only some of the leaves are affected. When I looked at the palm more closly some of the leaves actually look like they have been burned.

 

Did you apply palm fertilizer at recommended rate and water in? Fertilizer burn damages the root system, and then leaves wilt and dry up because the roots are too damaged to conduct enough water. Proper water, fertilizer, and fungicide should be used as integrated management of the palm. Slow release palm fertilizer is best.

 

I applied at the right rate. However I think I got it down the crown (where the new foiliage comes out of). Could this cause the burn damage?

 

Yes. Fertilizer should be applied at base of plant.

 

I cut the damaged palm as close to the base of the clump as I could. It had about a 4 inch trunk. Do I need to apply anything to the wound or will it seal itself. Like I said before there are 4 palms coming from the base, now three. I suppose they are not rooted together, can damage from one affect the others?