Understanding the environment that you plan to plant into is important when choosing the best species for your space.

Have a look at the soil where you plan to plant, is it heavy and wet clay soil or sandy and free draining?

Check out the immediate surroundings of you planting site, is there an overhead canopy for sun protection, or a fence / hedge close by for shelter from a prevailing wind.

Is your planting site subject to severe frosts or snow?

Is your site coastal, is salt likely to be a factor?

In order to get the best results from planting it is wise to choose plants that will thrive in your conditions. Well situated plants are less susceptible to pests and disease and require less attention while providing maximum impact.

We have a selection of palms from all over the world, from Mexico to China. New Zealand has the most southern growing indigenous palm in the world, the Chatham Island Nikau. There is a palm to suit every space, whatever your conditions.

Planting Your Palm

CHOOSE a palm that is suitable to your planting site: shade, semi-shade, full sun, windy, coastal.

DIG a hole at least twice the size of the planter bag.

PLANT into good quality compost, prepare the hole with a handful of blood & bone or fish meal. Plant on a mound if possible.

STAKE the palm if it is tall or on a windy site. Remove stakes when the root system has been established and the palm is firm in the ground.

WATER thoroughly when planted. Water daily during establishment.

MULCH or bark around the base of your palm helps to retain available moisture.

FEED your palm in its first spring on site, with six month slow release fertilizer.

Watering and Nutrition

• Water daily for the first 3 weeks.
• Continue to water regularly for the next 3 months or until established.
• Water regularly in spring and summer for maximum growth.
• Your palm will take a couple of months to adjust to its new environment so, expect some yellowing and dieback of lower fronds, these can be removed with sharp loppers or garden shears.
• Fertilise with slow release fertiliser in the Spring, if your palm yellows or suffers from wind or sun burn increase watering frequency and apply a liquid foliage fertilizer such as Nitrosol.

Additional Tips

• Indoor palms – Do not let them dry out, a shallow saucer kept slightly filled is very good (there a few exceptions, for example some Chamaedorea species)
• Never use an oil-based product or emulsion to shine the leaves. This causes the tiny perforations in the in the leaf to become blocked, later causing brown spots or lesions to form. Water is the best cleanser
• Indoor plants do not require much fertilisation . Over fertilising will cause root burn. A little dose 3-4 times a year should usually be plenty