Trees

Sago Palms Plant Care - southern California

Written by Walter Andersen Nursery

User Rating: / 4
PoorBest 

Cycads are one of the oldest living plant families. They have been around for thousands of years. They are also one of the slowest growing plants.

Planting

Plant them in loose potting soil. They prefer good drainage. Most cycads will grow in full sun along the coast, but inland would be best in partial shade.They make excellent container plants because of their interesting character.

Water

Established plants will usually need water only once a week, unless it is extremely warm, and less often in the winter.

Fertilizing

Because they usually only send out one set of leaves a year, (usually May to August) feeding is only necessary from March to October. Use a general purpose fertilizer, fairly high in nitrogen. Osmocote 14-14-14 is an excellent slow release plant food which you will only need to use two or three times a year. If your cycads are grown in a very warm protected area it is possible to occasionally get two sets of leaves in one year.

Insects

Occasionally you might see some scale insects. It is not a terrible problem but if it shows up, we suggest a "paraffin oil spray" formulated for plants. It is not a 'poison' it smothers them so they have a slow death. Follow label directions carefully for mixing. Water thoroughly the day before applying any spray, do not spray if the temperature is above 85 degrees F.

Pruning

When a new set of leaves is about 75% developed, remove all of the old leaves. Cut them as close to the trunk as possible. This allows room for the new set of leaves and the old ones would soon turn yellow and brown if left on the plant. Do not keep the plant in too much shade, especially when the new leaves are forming. The foliage will become elongated and very spindly.

Propagation

Cycads are dioecious, meaning there are male and female plants and there must be one of each to produce viable seed. The blooms of each sex are different. The male bloom is usually long and produces the pollen which is carried to the female plant by insects and wind. Only the female plant is able to produce seed.

Cycas revoluta or ‘Sago Palm’ is the most common of the cycads in this area. They are native to areas of southern Japan to Java. There are some very old plants in southern California. When they get very old they often branch and have offshoots or “pups”. These form at the soil level and can be removed when they reach the size of a baseball. It is best if the pups are kept in a greenhouse until they become established.

Walter Andersen Nursery has built its reputation on providing the highest quality plant material and the best customer service backed by a professional staff. This, along with the widest variety of plant material available anywhere in San Diego has kept generations of San Diegans coming to Walter Andersen Nursery year after year.

 

If you have information like this for your region and would like to share it please let us know, we'll be sure to give you writing credit and  link back to your website! Click here to contact us.

Pruning and Care of Crape Myrtles

Written by Kate Copsey

Crape myrtles are one of the most beautiful flowering trees in the south. They have a wonderful vase shape, attractive pealing bark and bloom all summer long. It is no wonder that they are popular, in fact people sometimes complain that they are over planted.

With all this popularity, it is surprising that such bad pruning habits have developed with the tree! In essence the tree tops are lopped off in a way that is similar to the way we trim ornamental grasses. This is hideous to look and has never been supported by academia but each February and March, landscape crew run amok and ‘prune’ every tree in sight. The multitude of new growth that sprouts up after this beheading is weak and equally unattractive. Additionally the method creates large, ugly ‘knees’ at the point of reduction.

The problem seems to stem from the fact that the tree produces a lot of small side branches each year, and the blooms form on that new growth. The twiggy growth and remnant blossoms leave the trees looking a little ragged each spring so some tidying up is needed. Trimming the dead flower heads off and the very thin twigs is acceptable, but you should not take branches that are thicker than a thumb. If left to grow in a natural form they will be graceful and trouble free for years to come.  

Myrtles Plant your crape myrtle in full sun to part shade for the best bloom, and keep the soil slightly moist that first year so that the tree can get established. Staking is not required. Some varieties will produce sucker growth around the base of the main trunk, and these should be removed, along with any low growing growth. The attractive bark is smooth to look at, and is best when lower branches are kept to a minimum. Look for varieties with a rich cinnamon color, such as Nanches , and you will have summer color, plus winter interest.  

 

 

 

 

 

In humid summers crapes can have a problem with mold and fungal issues, but unless the tree is small, there is nothing really you can do. Smaller trees can be treated with an appropriate spray, but in general, the infestation will not do long term harm. Crapes can be planted in groups, or as a focal point, and they can also be used to line a driveway.