By Julie Chai

After witnessing the profusion of unhealthy palm trees in the area, Los Altan Jim Denz decided to do something about it. An active member of the International Palm Society and the Palm Society of Southern California, Denz created a business called The Palm Doctor, focused on planting and revitalizing palm trees.

One of the main problems that Denz sees with respect to palms is improper soil preparation. “Most landscapers don’t consider palm trees’ special needs when they plant them and those palms soon go into decline,” Denz said. Many palms come from rain forest environments where the soil is loose and well-draining, whereas the local soil has a high clay content. Thus, planting areas must be appropriately amended for palms to thrive.

Symptoms of poor palm health include yellow fronds, yellow- or brown-tipped leaflets and smaller than normal leaves. Fortunately for palm owners, Denz said that many of these conditions are easily corrected. Drawing on years of palm knowledge, he uses palm-specific fertilizer and mulches to treat sick palms and instructs owners on palm care.

Denz said that in our planting zone, over 100 types of palms will grow, many of which are quite exotic. In addition to the common varieties available at local nurseries, Denz can also provide clients with more unusual palm species.

“I want to show people how great their palms can look with proper care,” Denz said. “A robust, healthy palm tree is really a sight to behold.”

Contact The Palm Doctor at 961-7072.