I always am conservative, and don't use a whole lot. So I'd be interested to see pictures of your palms where you can make out the amount of fertilizer put down around the tree. I'm curious to see 1) how much is used and 2) how close or far away from the trunk it is.

Thanks in advance.

Don't have a picture Justin, but I use the Vigoro Palm Food. It's not a slow release. I use about a half a handfull on new plantings 5 gallon and smaller. I use 1 full to heaping handfull for larger plantings or 1 year in ground plants. I use 2 heaping handfulls for large plants that have been in the ground 2 years or longer. I just sprinkle it around from touching the trunk to about 12" out. I've never burned a palm by fertilizing.

I always am conservative, and don't use a whole lot. So I'd be interested to see pictures of your palms where you can make out the amount of fertilizer put down around the tree. I'm curious to see 1) how much is used and 2) how close or far away from the trunk it is.

Thanks in advance.

Justin, where have you been?? Palm nutrition is my business, and a successful one...because I deliver results. My clients average income is over 15 Million$ /yr. They want and demand beautiful palms.

I use gentle fertilizers that meter out nutrition slowly, especially for low rainfall areas. I won't try and "sell" you, but Lutz Maintenance spikes serve me incredibly well, with four to seven stakes (depending on too many factors to explain here!) I've always preferred nutrients feeding the roots of my palms than the turf or surrounding shrubbery as they "hog" the good stuff that palms need. You get a full three months of activity, and no "burn" ring around the palms. I hate that look!

Investigate on your own then make the decision. BTW: Why haven't you signed up for thewisegardener.com/forum? We're eager to have your insightful posts there, also!!

Adios, my friend Justin! You're the best!

Paul

Very helpful, thanks. Anyone use the Apex fertilizer? Suggestions on how much to use with that fertilizer?

Very helpful, thanks. Anyone use the Apex fertilizer? Suggestions on how much to use with that fertilizer?

They have recommendations on the bag. . .I tried following it once to see what they recommended and it seems awfully high and somewhat confusing to follow because I don't have lone solitary palms with nothing else around them. But it appears it can be applied quite heavily (if you can afford it because it certainly isn't cheap). The last few times I haven't bothered to measure and just throw it around as much as looks about right. All the surrounding material gets a hit, so I don't really bother fertilizing anything else separately since almost everywhere in my yard has some sort of palm roots. Certain surrounding plants could probably use more nitrogen heavy fertilizer, but I don't see a way to make that play nicely and keep separate from the palm fertilizer.

As far as the lutz spikes, I feel like some of my mature trees did look possibly better several years ago when I used to use them. . .but it was a big ordeal and very expensive to get the recommended amount - plus it made fertilizing non-palm surrounding material confusing because it seemed like possible overfertilization as granular fertilizer used for surrounding plants would be hitting the spiked palms just the same. Yep. So I've found it easiest to just slop palm special everywhere a few times a year and hope it is doing something!

I've had an experienced palm grower tell me not to use Apex as it tended to burn every plant other than a palm in his garden.

Organic fertilisers for me all the way. I apply on everything... palms, trees, heliconias, gingers and fruit trees.

Regards, Ari

Organic fertilisers for me all the way. I apply on everything... palms, trees, heliconias, gingers and fruit trees.

Regards, Ari

Ditto.

On the flip side, when I put the miracle grow tree & shrub spikes in the ground for my shrubs, are my palms benefitting too?

I always am conservative, and don't use a whole lot. So I'd be interested to see pictures of your palms where you can make out the amount of fertilizer put down around the tree. I'm curious to see 1) how much is used and 2) how close or far away from the trunk it is.

Thanks in advance.

I used to use vigoro spikes alot, they are cheaper than lutz and work great, IMO. I stgarted with lutz spikes, but they were pricey so I swwitched. I used to spike 3 per palm every 3 months during growing season. Now, I spike once a year and use broadcast fertilizer, humic acid and fish emulsion about every 4 weeks. The advantage of spikes is that they keep the nutrient and mineral concentrations from going too low, they are more consistent. The disadvantage is that they are alot of work. In the heat, I wont do that work anymore. I highly recommend humic acid as it chelates trace minerals (keeps them available) in the soil and also stimulates and cultivates the microbes beneficial to root growth.

I too use Lutz spikes. I have for 4 years now. I use them on palms and trees. When you hear most palm people talk they always say it is bad. "Can't control amounts", "You can give fert burn to palm", "They will kill your plants". Luckily I used thee spikes before getting advice from the forums. Had I read this I would not have used them. But I swear by them now. My little secret muuuhhahhaahhaa. But they are a lot of work. They break when getting pounded in, the plastic cap sticks to the spike, etc.. But I see the results in my palms. Example, my Ravenea rivularis is green throughout the year and is as round as one of my girlfriends in college.

I don't use any chemical ferts at all.

Lots of mulching, wood ashes, and, the odd, er, Sacred Golden Liquid Fertilizer . . . . . .

So Tom and Len both mention how hard of work it is to install fertilizer spikes. How hard can it be? Poke a hole and shove it in. I don't get it.

So Tom and Len both mention how hard of work it is to install fertilizer spikes. How hard can it be? Poke a hole and shove it in. I don't get it.

Well in my case, I have to remove up to 3-4" of granite rock with a rake to get to the hard clay soil, then hammer the spike in, about 5-6 hits with a hammer per spike . Its hard work in the 105F+ heat when when you rake alot of granite gravel and put 120+ spikes in. Thats why I do it once a year, its all about the heat. I know that you are a human earth mover matty, but you have that nice cool weather to work with in coastal socal. Its still impressive, but it would be alot more impressive if you were to be a human earthmover in 105F+ in direct AZ sun .

Matt, putting in a cup and pulling out with fert and then throwing it round the yard is easy. Hammering in 100 spikes is hard work. Try it sometime. Better yet, stop by. I have spikes ready to go in and could use the help.

Matt, putting in a cup and pulling out with fert and then throwing it round the yard is easy. Hammering in 100 spikes is hard work. Try it sometime. Better yet, stop by. I have spikes ready to go in and could use the help.

It is all in the tool. I have the tool that Lutz sells, takes seconds at most per Spike.

Its all in the soil.

Matt, putting in a cup and pulling out with fert and then throwing it round the yard is easy. Hammering in 100 spikes is hard work. Try it sometime. Better yet, stop by. I have spikes ready to go in and could use the help.

It is all in the tool. I have the tool that Lutz sells, takes seconds at most per Spike.

Its all in the soil.

Matt, putting in a cup and pulling out with fert and then throwing it round the yard is easy. Hammering in 100 spikes is hard work. Try it sometime. Better yet, stop by. I have spikes ready to go in and could use the help.

It is all in the tool. I have the tool that Lutz sells, takes seconds at most per Spike.

Len, as usual you are absolutely correct.

Now, how you get there is open to some debate.

Having the luxury of 3 acres I am conducting numerous experiments. My guts tell me the best way is to use chemical fertilizers to first correct the nurtient balance, and then use organics to maintain it. Now, I do believe that you could do it in on a pure organic level, but that would take 3 to 5 years, whereas the chemical first then organic can do it in 1 to 3 years. I am not a scientist, but this is what I have come to conclude from my own research and experiences.

Example, my Ravenea rivularis is green throughout the year and is as round as one of my girlfriends in college.