Can my palm tree be saved?

[roro]

Hey everyone

I have three very tall Queen Palms in my backyard, but one of them has been doing really bad for the past 6 months or more. I actually bought this house back last summer and it was already not so great... I'm not sure what it could be because the others are doing great. 

There were a couple of fronds that were in bad shape and my gardener suggested to remove them (not sure if that was even a great idea or not!) and aside from one frond slowly growing back and basically drying out, nothing has happened.

I've tried watering a lot (but not too much), adding those nutrient spikes a while back (quite close to the trunk - maybe not in the right place?) and adding mulch and compost....

I've attached some pictures. Please help! I really want to save it! Any tips would be great!

Thanks!

 

[PalmatierMeg]

Looks dead from here. I can't diagnose its problems but queens are water and fertilizer gluttons. My experience in FL tells me that most homeowners do nothing for theirs while their palms slowly die of thirst and lack of nutrients. Lingering death can take years. Given your extreme drought and water restrictions I suspect those palms received nothing. Why all 3 aren't dead by now I don't know. Maybe this one was already compromised or genetically weak. In all honesty you are better off without them in the long run. I lost all my lush, healthy queens to fusiarum wilt 2 years ago and, yes, I and my garden are better off without them. There are palms for your climate (not Washies) that better handle drought and not waste precious resources. Cali members can post suggestions.

[Pando]

Sorry roro, that tree is gone. Even if you do get some green to show up again at the top (very doubtful), the trunk looks in a pretty bad shape, which you cannot correct. Best course of action - remove it, and possibly remove others as well (cheaper in a long run). You can grow some wonderful palms in LA climate, and queens are just way too ordinary.

[roro]

Thanks for the answers... Yeah the other 2 trees are gorgeous and doing great. They are all the same height and had the same conditions (I assume). I think it may be that the third one was planted in a sort-of planter (the trunk is surrounded by a 1-2 foot high brick wall full of soil). But I'm sure it has access to the ground below  So maybe the roots had a hard time - but then again, it still grew so high up! 

But just for curiosity, what would be the steps to try to save it? Could it be that now in Spring it will get a growth spurt? PalmatierMeg mentioned that they need lots of water, but I read that they don't really need so much, being so established. 

 

Edited March 15, 2016 by roro

[trioderob]

PLANT A BIZZIE

TRUST ME ON THAT ONE

[roro]

So what's a bizzie? :)

[Pando]

THAT is a bizzie:

 

[roro]

gotcha

so everyone has given up on my queen palm?

 

[Kim]

Queens are indestructible, for the most part. I've seen worse than yours, still alive, but NOT pretty.  But you are being gently guided toward palm addiction in its many forms.  The palm whisperers are gathering around you...  I warn you, the first few palms are free.  After that, your tastes become more expensive.  Next thing you know, you are shopping for real estate in Hawaii.  Ask me how I know... 

[roro]

Haha! - Because you live in Hawaii in the middle of a forest full of palm trees?

Then you must be the one that can help! 

[GMann]

I would not consider it much of a loss. Queen palms are pretty boring looking. Get rid of it and plant something more interesting nearby.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

It's a gonner. Replacing it with a bismark is a great idea.