Palm tree in SoCal after neighbors sprinkler damage

[Davidv]

I’m afraid my beloved palm tree is beyond salvage but wanted to ask for a second opinion before cutting it down. It was essentially overwatered for like 6 months while a neighbor had irrigation leaks. I tried everything to get them to fix it but it took a long time. It’s now a year later and my tree hasn’t had new leaf growth in almost 9 months. The trunk at the top has shrunk significantly and it has fungus growing at the bottom even though it is much drier now at the roots.

My question is: do I have it cut down or should I give it more time? Is it even possible for the tree to recover?

thanks in advance,

davidv

[Jim in Los Altos]

Pretty much impossible to over water a Queen palm. Many grow in the swamps in their native habitat. That fungal growth at the base of the trunk is the result of the likely culprit. Looks like Ganoderma to me, which is deadly. 

Edited November 15, 2020 by Jim in Los Altos

[NOT A TA]

Welcome to the forum @Davidv! Sorry but don't have any good news for yout

Cut it down, there's no hope of survival, it has Ganoderma zonatum. Regardless of what began the problem, once the fungus has been growing in the base of the trunk long enough to form a basidiocarp they don't survive. I've been studying cases and experimenting with the fungus for several years and have found that Syagrus romanzoffiana (Queens) with the fungus are more likely to form the basidiocarps than other types of palms. They typically form on the N-NW side of the palm in the adventitious root zone or just above soil line unless there's a shadier place at the base due to other plants or or things that block the sun.

I've noticed that many of the Queens here that show Ganoderma zonatum basidiocarp formation appear to have been previously infected with Thielaviopsis paradoxa and the Ganoderma zonatum is a secondary fungus infection living on the dead/dying tissue. The palm in the OP pics has the "look" of Thielaviopis infection which is more likely on mature trees about that size. A cross section cut in the upper part of the trunk when it gets cut down could provide info on whether it had the Thielaviopis fungus and if it did it probably preceded the Ganoderma.

As Jim mentioned Queens can take a lot of water so I'd doubt the neighbors irrigation problems caused the Queens demise.  A more likely scenario would be that the palm was trimmed a few  years ago and green fronds were cut allowing Thielaviopis to enter the fresh wounds.  The Ganoderma zonatum is a secondary infection and has been active in the base of the trunk at least  1-1/2 to 2 years (based on the basidiocarps size/appearance).

[Palm Tree Jim]

Great advice above.

[PalmatierMeg]

Do not plant another palm in that spot. The soil is contaminated.

[Merlyn]

I'd agree with the other comments, Ganoderma killed that palm.  Take it out immediately, and have them extract the stump.  Do NOT have them grind it, that will just spread the fungus to every palm in the area.  If the company has a small tractor backhoe they could yank out the stump easily.  At that size it would be a pain to dig by hand, but doable. 

As others mentioned, the ground in the area is now contaminated with Ganoderma Zonatum.  Planting another palm in that spot will be futile, it'll just get the same fungus and die quickly.  You could plant other species there, just not a palm.