Sago palm dilemma
+10
I just moved into a house that has a lot of sago palms all over the yard but some of them look like they are dying I can't tell if this is what you call cycad scale or is this what sago palms do at the change of the season... does anyone know? I'm in Charleston SC
One that's part sick
Most look like this...
What to do???
8 answers
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This could be due from of number of things, from drought to an insect situation. Look very closely to the leaves of the palms for webbing,and or what appears to be the remainder of a shell casting so to speak. It will be brown.
Janet Pizaro
on Nov 10, 2015
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If there is scale you will see it as a snowy, flakey stuff on the underneath of the frond. It's hard to scrape off. It spreads quickly and is airborne. I'm not seeing it here. Judging from your pictures you've included it looks like it's simply broken, damaged leaves. The brown will not come back but you should have new fronds each year that will replace the broken ones, eventually. Palm fertilizer is always a good idea, at the right time of the year.
Diane
on Nov 10, 2015
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If it was scale you would see white dots all over the fronds. I don't see any sign of that. Put your sagos on a good fertilization regimen next year. And it won't hurt to toss all your coffee grounds around them. It's a good defense against cycad scale.
Douglas Hunt
on Nov 10, 2015
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Pamela, my friend is a horticulturist in Charleston and owns a landscape company. He has told me that die back similar to what you are seeing, is absolutely due to too much water. Plant your Sago's high, where water drains to the side. Clear out your bottom fronds, also. This will at least allow for air circulation around the base of the plant. Good Luck!
Ann O'Hearn
on Nov 11, 2015
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DOUG, I HAVE THE WHITE SCALES ON MY SEGA PALM....WHAT CAN I DO?
Stephanie
on Nov 11, 2015
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I live in Arizona, this could be too much sun. The needles can get sunburnt.
Jkldsfapsi
on Nov 11, 2015
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I live near Charleston too. They've gotten too much water. I transplanted a couple last spring and my husband was determined to keep them watered, and they started looking bad. I made him quit and they perked right up. Most people just cut the bad off in late winter/ early spring and new ones will grow back.
Lisa brunson
on Nov 12, 2015
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I live about an hour from Charleston, mine are doing same thing, we have had more than our share of rain this year. Also it could be some frost damage from last year. Welcome to SC. Hope ya like it here.
Lagree Wyndham
on Nov 12, 2015
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