Page 25 - July August Cascadian

There have been several reported cases of diseased and dying palms recently which prompted me to update last year’s palm disease
article about the care and maintenance of palm trees.
One of the most prevalent culprits is butt rot — Ganoderma butt rot that is. :) Apparently all palm trees in Florida are susceptible to Ganoderma butt rot, a disease caused by the fungus Ganoderma zonatum which is characterized by wilting, slower growth, off-color foliage, and more dead lower leaves than would be normal. Often a hard, shelf-
like fungal conk appears on the lower portion of the trunk. Eventually, it will form a very distinct structure that is quite hard with a glazed reddish-brown top surface and a white undersurface. Because this fungus spreads through spores, palm owners will want to remove conks as soon
as they see them appear, and place them in the trash to
be incinerated or delivered to a landfill. Do not place in trash that will be recycled in the landscape. The earlier the conk is removed, the less likely the spores will be released
into the environment. These spores blow with the wind,
so it needs to be a community
effort to reduce the spread of this
lethal fungus. The entire palm will
also have to be removed as soon as
possible.
Fusarium Wilt
Caused by the fungus Fusarium
oxysporum, fusarium wilt causes
brown, wilted fronds. The first signs
appear on the lower fronds, and
the disease attacks one side of the
tree, causing a one-sided death. The
palm eventually loses its striking green coloring and dies
as it succumbs to the disease. Depending on the size and health of the palm when it gets infected, it can die within a couple of months or last up to a year.
There's no cure for fusarium wilt, so
the only option is to remove all parts
of the infected trees, including root
systems. Just like other soil-borne
pathogens, fusarium wilt lingers in
the dirt, so you shouldn't plant any
new palms in the same spot.
Frizzle Top
Look for these symptoms:
• Dry, crispy-looking leaves
• Stubby-looking new growth
• Yellow streaking on frond leaves
• Curled up fronds (in some cases)
That’s why you need to get on top of frizzle top before it gets
on top you. Palms that are more susceptible to frizzle top 25
Written by Johanna Kitson, Master Gardner
include queen palms, royal palms and pygmy date palms. You were taking such good care of your palm. What happened? Well, don’t be too hard on yourself. Manganese deficiency occurs naturally in plants growing in a pH of over 6.5 and in poorly drained organic matter. Drought- stressed plants are also susceptible. We’ve seen palms grown in alkaline soil develop this disorder. Cooler soil temperature will sometimes lead to frizzle top, too. The best way to help prevent and/or minimize your palm frizzle top is to fertilize your palm with an essential minor element package. Minor elements are nutrients used by plants in very small amounts but are still essential to plant health. While these nutrients will help new leaves stay green, you’ll need to adhere to a regular regimen.
After removal of the diseased tree, it’s recommended not to replace it with another palm. Please look at the new 2024 list of approved plants and trees and the new footprint for your model home and, for additional ideas, check out the Master Picture Album book located in the General Manager’s office.
Remember that all changes have to be approved by the Architectural Control Board, so be sure to request permission prior to starting your project.
Landscape Committee
Dear Mr. Vick,
The Landscape Committee at Cascades at St Lucie West would like to thank you for bringing Ms. Diane Blakeman to our community. She is a much- valued asset for our entire community. Since Diane’s arrival, she has been a great resource for project guidance and information and has become an integral part of our landscape committee, working with all the committee members and collaborating with us on our projects.
As you know, the community lacked leadership in Diane’s position for almost two years before she arrived, and we could not be more grateful for her positive, friendly leadership approach to every challenge we face. Landscaping was one of our biggest challenges when she arrived and working with us, we are now one committee working together and providing needed upgrades to a community whose landscape is twenty-three plus years old. Diane engages in our projects, making suggestions, sending out contract bids to potential contractors and keeping the contracts awarded on schedule. Her diligence, knowledge, and ability to manage
... continued on page 35
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