Our palm trees - seeking advice

[Freeda]

Any ideas about our Sylvester palm trees and whether they are saveable?
We live in the Village of Hillsborough, and we put these palm trees in in 2015, and all five of them have the type of damage shown on these photos. We've been told by one tree company that the trees are dying and have to be removed; or else we risk them uprooting and falling on our house - (or, we're of course, concerned about also - falling on someone / something else). I read that palm tree roots go far horizontally out in all directions from the tree, though they don't grow very deep into the ground, and that this makes them unlikely to uproot.
Any ideas? Any suggestions on who to call for an opinion about what is wrong with the trees, or what to do, or whether the trees are, in fact, dying; or who might know a fix for this? Any ideas on who to take them out if it comes to that? Feel free to call or text if you want: (502) 553-0241; or email freeda@lifeboost.com; or comment here.
Thanks in advance, Freeda and Doug Louthan

[vintageogauge]

Call Tree Frog, he is the very best arborist in The Villages, whatever he tells you will be exactly what it is. It looks more like the roots are searching for food in my amateur opionion.

[Freeda]

Call Tree Frog, he is the very best arborist in The Villages, whatever he tells you will be exactly what it is. It looks more like the roots are searching for food in my amateur opionion.

Thanks so much - any info on how to reach him? Update: Just found Tree Frog Tree Service - we'll call them. If that's different than who you meant, let us know. I wasn't sure if you're referring to an individual versus this company. thanks, Freeda

[Happydaz]

Judging from the pictures, it looks like your Sylvester Palms are healthy. The top growth is nice and green so they appear to be getting excellent nutrition. The bottom of the trees look like a “normal” abnormality of the palm roots growing from higher up the tree. The roots pushing out make it look like there is something wrong, but it is a normal occurrence in many Sylvester Palms. I have three of them and they all have roots like that at the bottom of the tree. I plant flowers and shrubs at the base so it isn’t as noticeable. In my neighborhood many of the more mature Sylvester Palms look like that. If you want a definitive answer you certainly could consult a certified arborist.

[villagetinker]

I agree with above about contacting Tree Frog, if you can send them the photos, they may be able to answer the question without a trip to your house.

[RedChariot]

We have used Tree Frog. Kanani is the best. He has saved a tree I thought needed removal . Removed those that were diseased. So knowledgeable. Easy to work with. Takes no short cuts. A gentleman.

[JP]

I think every Sylvester palm eventually looks like yours. I took a reciprocating saw and just sawed all that off. Tree "looks" better and it is fine.

[Freeda]

Call Tree Frog, he is the very best arborist in The Villages, whatever he tells you will be exactly what it is. It looks more like the roots are searching for food in my amateur opionion.

Thank you; we called and they are coming out in a few days. Appreciate the advice.

[Freeda]

Judging from the pictures, it looks like your Sylvester Palms are healthy. The top growth is nice and green so they appear to be getting excellent nutrition. The bottom of the trees look like a “normal” abnormality of the palm roots growing from higher up the tree. The roots pushing out make it look like there is something wrong, but it is a normal occurrence in many Sylvester Palms. I have three of them and they all have roots like that at the bottom of the tree. I plant flowers and shrubs at the base so it isn’t as noticeable. In my neighborhood many of the more mature Sylvester Palms look like that. If you want a definitive answer you certainly could consult a certified arborist.

Thank you so much for the information!

[Freeda]

Judging from the pictures, it looks like your Sylvester Palms are healthy. The top growth is nice and green so they appear to be getting excellent nutrition. The bottom of the trees look like a “normal” abnormality of the palm roots growing from higher up the tree. The roots pushing out make it look like there is something wrong, but it is a normal occurrence in many Sylvester Palms. I have three of them and they all have roots like that at the bottom of the tree. I plant flowers and shrubs at the base so it isn’t as noticeable. In my neighborhood many of the more mature Sylvester Palms look like that. If you want a definitive answer you certainly could consult a certified arborist.

Thank you so much for the insight and information, and the ideas of how to make those areas of the trunk not so conspicuous. We have Tree Frog coming out in a few days.

[Freeda]

I think every Sylvester palm eventually looks like yours. I took a reciprocating saw and just sawed all that off. Tree "looks" better and it is fine.

Thank you so much for the advice and reassurance. We appreciate it!

[Freeda]

I agree with above about contacting Tree Frog, if you can send them the photos, they may be able to answer the question without a trip to your house.

Hi, thanks for the advice. We contacted them and they're coming in a few days. Will do as you suggest about sending them the photos first.

[Freeda]

We have used Tree Frog. Kanani is the best. He has saved a tree I thought needed removal . Removed those that were diseased. So knowledgeable. Easy to work with. Takes no short cuts. A gentleman.

Thanks for the info; we will ask for him.

[coconutmama]

Thank you; we called and they are coming out in a few days. Appreciate the advice.

Another vote for Tree Frog & pls let us know the outcome. 🤞

[oldtimes]

Any ideas about our Sylvester palm trees and whether they are saveable?
We live in the Village of Hillsborough, and we put these palm trees in in 2015, and all five of them have the type of damage shown on these photos. We've been told by one tree company that the trees are dying and have to be removed; or else we risk them uprooting and falling on our house - (or, we're of course, concerned about also - falling on someone / something else). I read that palm tree roots go far horizontally out in all directions from the tree, though they don't grow very deep into the ground, and that this makes them unlikely to uproot.
Any ideas? Any suggestions on who to call for an opinion about what is wrong with the trees, or what to do, or whether the trees are, in fact, dying; or who might know a fix for this? Any ideas on who to take them out if it comes to that? Feel free to call or text if you want: (502) 553-0241; or email freeda@lifeboost.com; or comment here.
Thanks in advance, Freeda and Doug Louthan

You are correct that they do not uproot. We watched one lean over all night during hurricane Irma and it eventually just snapped in half. The tree company you spoke with are scammers.

[jimmy o]

Leaves and branches get their nutrition from soil nutrients up the bark. From your photos your leaves and branches are getting plenty of nutrients. But the trunk of the tree appears to be eaten away. The trunk has nothing to do with nutrient travel but only supports the weight of the tree. Looks to me like your seemingly healthy tree is losing its support and could fall over. Tree Frog will offer great advice.

[Happydaz]

Leaves and branches get their nutrition from soil nutrients up the bark. From your photos your leaves and branches are getting plenty of nutrients. But the trunk of the tree appears to be eaten away. The trunk has nothing to do with nutrient travel but only supports the weight of the tree. Looks to me like your seemingly healthy tree is losing its support and could fall over. Tree Frog will offer great advice.

The trunk has everything to do with nutrient travel as how else would water and minerals get to the fronds and how would nutrients get back down to the roots? I think what you meant to say is that unlike a regular tree the nutrient and water travel up and down a palm tree is not in the thin layer under the bark but rather throughout the trunk in hundreds of little “straws” that are spread throughout the “trunk.” So with a palm tree if the outside of the trunk is damaged or even girdled it doesn’t kill it. So what that means is the unsightly bottom of those palms doesn’t affect their health as there are hundreds of channels inside the trunk to move nutrients up and down. If you cut a maple tree down you see a thin ring around the tree just below the bark and then a dead wood center with many circular rings. If you cut a palm tree down the trunk has no such rings but instead it has hundreds of little circles or tubes that run up the trunk from the bottom of the tree to the heart of the palm tree that generates the fronds. (It almost looks like someone joined hundreds of straws together to make the trunk.) Most mature Sylvester Palms in The Villages have those extra roots at the bottom. They are not going to fall over.

[Troopie]

My Sylvester Palm seemed to be dying several months ago. I contacted an arborist who was able to figure out what was wrong. It's taking some time, but my tree is getting healthier...I think it will be back to normal by spring. It cost about $300, but it was worth every penny. Here's the information:

Kanani Morris
ISA Certified Arborist PN# 6091

Tree Frog Tree Service
11962 CR 101 Suite 302-202
The Villages, FL 32162
352-446-5043 Main
kmorris@treefrogtreeservice.biz
Tree Frog Tree Service - Home (http://www.treefrogtreeservice.biz)