Down the road there is a Washintonia that has all its fronds covering its torso. Once I really LOOKED, I rather liked the appearance of them still wearing their skirt, so that is the way I left the two we have. I have found that the easiest way to garden is to change my perception. I've also suggested this to clients that I've had; a more relaxed demeanor seems to be the result if the suggestion is taken to heart. Our neighbor, on the other hand, has theirs trimmed since that is what the previous owner had done. They do not want the fronds so are saved for me. Washingtonias have spines on the 'stems', so I grasp the 'leaf' end to put the stem through the chipper, then the 'leaf' goes into the shredder. The result is 2 or 3 yards of material that I use to cover pathways every year or two. Terran

I was surprised to see you were in PSP with a thuja question. I'll be out there in early May and will have to look around to see if people are actually still planting them there. If you check the Sunset Western Garden Book - and you should if you have a landscape - you'll see no Thuja are listed in your SS climate zone if you are on the floor of the valley. For good reason. There's only so long you can throw water at them before they just give up. If you are up the side of the hill somewhat, they might have stopped watering them, and there that is a good bet for demise. I'm fairly sure a secondary pest or two is attacking the weakened plants. You may want to contact the County Extension Agency and see what they recommend for replacements. Good luck!

Container looks quite small for the size of the plant and may not be adequate to support the foliage--so it's shedding. How does the soil feel beeath surface, moist or dry? Some soils repel water, make sure when you do water, that the water is actually soaking in and not just running through the container--this can happen with peaty mixes that get dry. It is still salvageable though if situation is corrected. Also, stop feeding it until the plant stabilizes and starts growing. Feeding is not the problem now, nor will it help.

HELP please! I bought a beautiful Majesty palm at Lowes 2 days ago and even though I've watered it the leaf tips are starting to turn yellow. It's over 5 feet all and I haven't repotted it yet although I suspect I will have to since I believe the roots are growing over the top. Nevertheless, I've watered it well and even stuck watering spikes and still I see the yellowing tips increasing. I need some help (PLEASE!); advice and/ or lessons as I'm really a novice - this IS MY 3rd palm and I'm getting really discouraged. I realize I don't have high lighting but where I found this palm was among a bunch of other palms, shades and In the indoor plant area. I believe i lost the other 2 because of my inexperience, I repotted them in a pot more than twice larger and they died....(I found out only later that too big a pot is only a death trap!) So, questions : should I leave this palm in its own pot and leave it where it is right now so as to give it time to acclimate itself to that area of my house or should I repot it tomorrow to a pot just a size larger? I am misting it every morning since I bought it 2 days ago (I just learned here I have to put a 50/50 alcohol water which I will start to do) but still the leaf tips are turning yellow FAST!! I really hate to lose another one....please help! Lastly, I Iive in Oyster Creek, Texas and I've always thought that Lowes or Home Depot carry plants that are for these neighborhoods, am I wrong? i really can't lug this plant to and from the shower simply because it's too tall, can't I just leave it where it is? although I could roll it out my back porch to spray it with a water hose but is all this moving around doing it any good? THANK YOU SO MUCH!