When we bought our property a year ago, I had a landscaper cut off all the dead fronds from the palms (27 Queen palms and a few Areca) and shred them so I could spread them under a big live oak. He did complain that they were really stringy and dulled the blades quickly, but the real problem is they seem to have some sort of thorns along the spines that is in the mulch, and I can't bring my garden cart over it as they puncture the tires. One afternoon all four tires went flat, and when I took out the tubes, they all had long thorns sticking out. I've probably had a dozen flats to repair, and can't bring the cart anywhere near where I do most of the gardening. I'd think twice about doing it again.

April is an extremely windy month here too. My palms often get damaged, especially since they are just coming outside from being indoors all winter, and are a little weak. I usually get some twine and wrap it around each frond until they are all wrapped around in twine. Im not sure how much it helps, but it probably gives the bases some added support and at least it gives me the idea that I did my best! I notice that queen palms are especially prone to wind damage. It usually takes about 60 mph winds for mine to lose a frond, but this time of a year, 60 mph gusts aren't too unheard of during bad storms. Im interested to hear everyone elses ideas! -Alex

Troy, Your Alexandra could have an infestation of palm dart butterfly larvae by the sounds of it. They are green catapillars that roll the leaflets over and chew them giving them a tattered look. Many of the commercial insecticides such as Maldison should work. As for palm leaves not dropping off, it depends very much on the species of palm. Some are notorious for this, such as the Queen (Cocos), Cotton, and most date palms. I steer away from these and go for only self cleaning types (most palms are self cleaning anyway) Hope this helps. Andrew.

I didn't pay much attention to the roots when I transferred it to the smaller pot. But, I don't think they were all that much limp or dark. The roots were covered in dirt so they probably were bound to be a little dark. It still looks pretty green yet. It's just the leaves that are shriveled up. How will I know if or when it's finally dead? Should I just throw it away and buy another one to start over? I potted it shortly after Christmas of 2013. All that time up until a week or so ago, it thrived! Its hard to know exactly when it started downhill since I only noticed a few days ago. It was doing really well though! Some people suggested maybe I actually under-watered it rather than over-watered. I always feared root-rot, so I would not water it much at all. But, in the last month or so I do seem to remember that I might have watered it more often. I don't know exactly though. By the way, in April I will be moving to California (Hanford). Will a Trachycarpus Fortunei grow in this climate indoors? What about outdoors? I know they have a plethora of Washingtonia Robusta out there. I think those palms like the extreme heat though, that's why they thrive. I believe I've read the Trachycarpus doesn't like extreme heat (no humidity) like where I'm moving to. Would it even be wise to attempt to restart on another Trachy? I would keep it in the house until it gets large enough to plant outside in the yard. But, even in the house it'll probably get 90-100F since we probably won't use the AC too much. They get between 8-12 inches of precipitation a year there, and temps reach 60s-80s in Winter/90s-120s in Summer. I don't really want to waste my time and effort on another Trachy if it's not going to make it out there where I'll be moving. When I had the idea to grow a Trachy I had thought I'd never leave the cold north (Northwest Ohio). But now, I think I'll be living there or possibly Florida for the long-term. I doubt I'll ever move back here to stay. Would another palm be better suited for me out there? Such as Washingtonia Robusta, Washingtonia Filifera, or something else?