After the first year, only the granular fertilizer is required. Most palms can remain out of the ground for two to three days with no damage if they are kept in a shady area and the root ball is watered daily. Desiccation of the root ball will severely damage the palm and reduce its chances of proper establishment. Also, one should pay particular attention to the burlap surrounding the roots. Complete coverage of the root ball and a heavy layer of mulch will alleviate this problem.
Many palms also suffer from being planted too deeply.
This essentially suffocates the roots and invites root diseases. As a general rule, one should always plant a palm at the same depth as it was initially grown. There are so many palms ideally suited for the warmer climates of the United States and provide much of the unique environment for which these states are known. Look around in your neighborhood to get a good idea of what will do well for you, and ask your local nursery person. Because of their relative ease of culture of palms and their minimal pest and disease problems, they should be prominently displayed in our landscape.