I don’t know about you, but I’m really enjoying seeing the palm trees all over Florida decorated with lights. It got me thinking about palm trees though. Why don’t we typically see palm trees on the rest of the East Coast outside of the beautiful sunshine state?
So, I did some research and found out that there are over 2,500 different palm tree species in the world. Palm trees can be separated into few major types depending on their trunk, leaf structure, growth rate, size, and cold tolerance. Aside from this basic segregation, palms also differ in salt and drought tolerance, leaf color, fruit and flower production. While most grow in tropical and subtropical climates, others can tolerate cold temperatures down to -20F.
Turns out that while some can live in extremely cold climates, cold weather can affect plants in a variety of ways. First, frost or freezing temperatures can damage the actual tissue of the plant as well as limiting the conduction of water through the trunk. Additionally, cold weather will slow down the growth of your palm and reduce the activity of the roots. As this occurs, the palm is weakened and susceptible to the perils of disease.
If you do have a palm tree in your yard and cold weather comes your way, experts suggest you wrap blankets around the trunk and top of the soil. This is an easy way for homeowners to protect their palm from a cold snap. Be sure to remove the blankets after a few days, when the weather has warmed up.
Happy Holidays from People’s Trust Insurance!