In the first picture you can see my HC Palmetto last Christmas 2021 ( 1.5 seasons in the ground in that first picture ) and the second picture is from earlier in November this year .
Last Christmas :
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November 2022 :
The fronds in the first picture above are the drooping fronds in the picture below caused by a wet heavy snow last winter . That center growth is mainly new growth in 2022 . I fertilized the hell out of it in July . I was actually worried I fertilized it too much , so to dilute the fertilizer down some I watered the hell out of it in July and August .
One thing that I decided to add about look of the palm in the two pictures is that the palm in the first picture might seem like a prettier looking palm to many , and it does to me , but once it fills out more I'm hoping that a snow doesn't bend down the fronds as bad due to the support of the lower fronds that won't get much snow on them , and those fronds will add support to the snow laden upper fronds . Of course some winters I won't get any real accumulation and that's the best outcome .Those wet heavy snows are the worst for disfiguring palms .
I could also try something like linking bungee cords together or use a rope and make 1 wrap around the lower fronds' petioles all the way around the palm to help support the lower and upper fronds from bending too far down . That would be easy , especially at the size the palm is now and will be for for next several years .
My main point is just to say that that center palm growth from last summer is a pretty decent amount of growth for a palm that is considered a slow grower .
Will
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