August 2026
Of all the topics I get asked questions about here at the Nursey, palm care is the most common. Palms are generally easy to look after, but there are a few things to be aware of when caring for your palm. Read on below for Matakana Palm’s top 3 tips.
Number 1: Choose the right palm for your context
Having palm selection as the number one care tip might seem a bit odd, but good or bad selection is going to dictate the success or failure of your plant from day one. We regularly see palms planted in environments in which they are not really suited for and as a result, keeping them healthy and looking good is a constant and sometimes unwinnable battle. When selecting your palm, you need to consider the following factors and ensure that the palm you choose will cope with most of the conditions in your garden.
Wind, sun and salt exposure
How much of each does your garden get? How do they change over the course of the year? Is your garden exposed to any weather events? Storms are a good example here. The garden here at the nursery normally gets the prevailing westerly wind, but strong easterly winds caused by storm events affect us as well, and it’s these winds that cause the most damage to the plants. In our case we need to protect them from both as well as choosing a palm species that will cope.
Drainage and water
Drainage and water are important for your palm. Palms generally like water and good drainage. Make sure you have both for it to really thrive. Drainage does not have to be elaborate or expensive. Simply digging the hole wider and deeper when planting and laying 100mm of scoria at the bottom is enough, especially if you have heavy or clay-based soil types.
Palms like to be moist but not damp or wet. Water accordingly. Don’t just rely on the top layers of soil when watering. Test the lower levels of soil too. A finger depth is a good indicator. This could be 2-3 times a week depending on the weather. Consider an irrigation system if you are pushed for time and if water supply is an issue, think carefully before you plant. We see a lot of cases where palms are struggling or have died because the tank water gets diverted for household use in the dry seasons.
Frost
Most palms in NZ can only tolerate frosts down to -1 or -2 at most. Some won’t even cope with that. Do your research and get advice.
Number 2: Regular Fertiliser
This is the one most people get wrong. Palms need fertiliser when they are planted and at the start of every spring once the frosts are over! A simple good quality general NPK fertiliser is sufficient.
Number 3: Mulch your Palms
Mulch (not bark) is important to help retain moisture in the hot months. This also has the bonus of suppressing weeds and improving the quality of your soil as the mulch breaks down long term. Apply a thin layer around the trunk and then a thicker layer out round the dripline of the palm. Having too thick a layer near the trunk can encourage rot.
The old saying ‘prevention is better than cure’ holds true for palms as much as anything else in life. A well looked after palm will be more resistant to stress and disease and all going well will look good for years to come.
Craig Smith