I’ve been doing stuff outside since spring, but I’m wanting to fertilize the palms so bad. My beds don’t have mulch yet, and the grass is growing in them sporadically but lots of it because it’s a big bed.I want to fertilize, but I’d hate for the fertilizer to fertilize the grass. The palms in the bed are 7ft between each palm, give or take. I do eventually want to put cardboard down and mulch, but as of now, that’s not an option. I want to remove the grass but not harm the surface roots of the palms using harsh tools like a hoe. I do of course hand pull what I can, but for the amount of grass I need to handle, I’m unsure what to do.

I think all you really need is a circle cleared around each palm , break the soil surface within the circle with a claw , soak the soil , then fertilize the next day and mix the fertilizer in . Harry

37 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I think all you really need is a circle cleared around each palm , break the soil surface within the circle with a claw , soak the soil , then fertilize the next day and mix the fertilizer in . Harry

The thing is though, because the palms are so close in proximity, I’m not sure if me giving each palm fertilizer might be too much fertilizer in the overall area?

I have not had that issue , but then I only fertilize the palms that need it . I use an organic powdery fertilizer that mixes in easily with the damp soil . I haven’t had any overlapping consequences fertilizing palms that are close together . We don’t get a lot of rain and I water manually with a hose. Harry

I fertilize these , in the second photo , before spreading fresh bark down . In the first photo only the Chambeyronia and Dioon get fertilizer . I spread the fertilizer about 12”-18” out from the trunk and mix it in the top soil . Then I move the bark back . I have seen others broadcast fertilizer throughout the yard , but I target the drip circle of individual palms. Harry

5 hours ago, ZPalms said:

The thing is though, because the palms are so close in proximity, I’m not sure if me giving each palm fertilizer might be too much fertilizer in the overall area?

Being in NC, your palms have limited growth potential and should be fertilized accordingly. That is, not as much as subtropical areas. I think that you should use a lesser amount than listed on the product and you will be fine. When you circle the palms with the fertilizer, just take note where the overlap is and don’t recover that spot too much. Theoretically if the roots of each palm overlap, they should both be able to uptake the nutrients so the overlap wouldn’t matter. But you could create a concentration in that area that might cause burn so it’s better to limit the application. What fertilizer are you using?

The only way is to mulch and hand weed, no chemicals involved which is even better. And another gardening tip is try not to let the weeds in. Once those weeds enter and set seed every year of seed is 7 years of weeds.

A canopy also stops the weeds in combination of mulch, in my main ornamental garden there are practically no weeds and the new establishing areas have a few weeds. By creating the canopy over time it builds itself into a living bio sphere of a living ecosystem you created that Mother Nature balances it all together!

On 7/3/2026 at 6:42 AM, Johnny Palmseed said:

Being in NC, your palms have limited growth potential and should be fertilized accordingly. That is, not as much as subtropical areas. I think that you should use a lesser amount than listed on the product and you will be fine. When you circle the palms with the fertilizer, just take note where the overlap is and don’t recover that spot too much. Theoretically if the roots of each palm overlap, they should both be able to uptake the nutrients so the overlap wouldn’t matter. But you could create a concentration in that area that might cause burn so it’s better to limit the application. What fertilizer are you using?

I use palmgain!

On 7/3/2026 at 7:32 AM, happypalms said:

The only way is to mulch and hand weed, no chemicals involved which is even better. And another gardening tip is try not to let the weeds in. Once those weeds enter and set seed every year of seed is 7 years of weeds.

A canopy also stops the weeds in combination of mulch, in my main ornamental garden there are practically no weeds and the new establishing areas have a few weeds. By creating the canopy over time it builds itself into a living bio sphere of a living ecosystem you created that Mother Nature balances it all together!

I'm still in the early days of my palms creating a canopy, that's my goal when they are grown up but what I think what I'm gonna do since I don't have mulch is fertilize then lay the cardboard and weigh it down with bricks around the palms. Which I hope should work and the grass should die under and also provide something. I do think about when my palms are taller and I can finally walk under them and be able to try some part sun plants since everything I plant now needs to be full sun south facing plantings.

excuse how wild it is, I can only do so much

21 minutes ago, ZPalms said:

I use palmgain!

I'm still in the early days of my palms creating a canopy, that's my goal when they are grown up but what I think what I'm gonna do since I don't have mulch is fertilize then lay the cardboard and weigh it down with bricks around the palms. Which I hope should work and the grass should die under and also provide something. I do think about when my palms are taller and I can finally walk under them and be able to try some part sun plants since everything I plant now needs to be full sun south facing plantings.

excuse how wild it is, I can only do so much

The cardboard is a great idea, many a gardener uses it as a no dig garden method. It’s cheap and usually free as well and eco friendly. Another way is just use a line trimmer but that’s ongoing work which we are all trying to avoid, cardboard mulch has another benefit as well retaining moisture and in winter a nice blanket for the palms. Sounds like you solved your problem. You could also plant some fast growing trees and remove them later on utilising them as a canopy.

27 minutes ago, happypalms said:

The cardboard is a great idea, many a gardener uses it as a no dig garden method. It’s cheap and usually free as well and eco friendly. Another way is just use a line trimmer but that’s ongoing work which we are all trying to avoid, cardboard mulch has another benefit as well retaining moisture and in winter a nice blanket for the palms. Sounds like you solved your problem. You could also plant some fast growing trees and remove them later on utilising them as a canopy.

If I grew a fast growing tree, Id feel bad to remove them later LOL. Maybe I can get a thin amount of pine straw from the woods.