Sandy soil requires more watering to maintain the moisture. Spread the fertilizer in the area one foot away from the trunk and out to the drip line of the tree. When possible, punch holes in the fertilized area to help with the surface absorption. Thoroughly soak the area after application with an open hose. During dry periods, soak the base of the tree with an open hose at least twice a month.
Most palms shed their fronds naturally, but others drop the fronds after some time.
When it is necessary to prune the trees, never remove fronds that do not hang below a line parallel to the ground. The hurricane or candle cut pruning of palms is a violation of Broward County Code and is subject to enforcement action. Hurricane winds may snap off the top of the palm where the thinning has occurred allowing the top of the palm to become airborne. For trees without crown shafts, prune fronds by sawing them off close to the trunk after they have turned brown. Code violations can result in fines, tree removals and tree replace-ment.