Mediterranean flair, exotic touches from foreign countries – the palm trees bring the beach feeling into your own garden. The plants are widespread in subtropical regions and especially in the rainforests; in Europe they grow in Spain and southern France. They are also enjoying increasing popularity in Germany - at least as houseplants. Many hobby gardeners worry that palm trees are unsuitable for the garden. In fact, not a single species is frost-hardy - but under certain circumstances they can survive the winter outside. In the article you will learn more about the palm family: the right location, planting, care and of course overwintering.
Find the right location for the palm trees in the garden
The different types of palm trees also have similar location requirements - they love sunny locations with high humidity - in the garden, for example, they can be planted directly next to the water features. Ideally, the soil should have a low clay content - a mixture with sand that allows water to pass through is ideal. Because the exotic plants basically cannot tolerate waterlogging. Since they form a wide and deep root system, they should first be placed in a larger pot. When transplanting outdoors, the distance to paved paths, drainage pipes, neighbors and the terrace should be at least 4 meters.
You should keep this in mind when caring for it
The palm trees do not have high demands and grow quickly if the humidity (around 45%) is sufficient and the temperatures fluctuate between 6 and 20 degrees. To prevent the leaves from drying out in the summer season, the crown must be sprayed with water every week. Apply liquid fertilizer (1ml fertilizer, 1 liter irrigation water) every two weeks during the growing season from April to early October. Optionally, you can buy slow-release fertilizer and give it once a year. How much water the plant needs is closely related to the weather - you usually have to water the palm tree from above as soon as the soil surface dries.
How long can palm trees stay outside?
Although all palm trees can be grown outside from spring to mid-autumn, in winter they should be grown in a greenhouse or in a cool, but very cool placebright roombe stored. The plants are sensitive to cold floor coverings (such as stone slabs on the floor) and should therefore be placed on a chair or wooden table.
Basically, they very rarely suffer from fungal diseases. Sometimes mealybugs and spider mites attack the plants - in this case, you can stick protective sticks in the ground and increase the humidity in the room.
Staging palm trees as soloists
Similar to house trees, the exotic plants can be staged as soloists - ideally right next to the pool, garden pond or decorative fountain. In California, the trees reach a height of up to 12 meters and are often used outdoors to provide shade. In Germany, most palm species grow much slower. Apply fertilizer regularly to stimulate plant growth.
Can you plant palm trees under?
Palm trees often have multiple trunks, the other trunks arise over time from root runners - so leave at least 2 meters around the tree free of flowers and native perennials. Underplanting is only possible with shade-loving ground cover plants and ferns.
The yucca palm is not a palm tree!
Not all palm trees are actually palm trees - the popular yucca palm is a member of the asparagus family. The easy-care plant can reach a maximum height of 6 meters and can be grown in...Winter as a houseplantDecorate the rooms and set accents in the garden in summer.
Palm trees as sun and privacy protection in the garden
An exotic island in the middle of the big city - palm trees create a holiday feeling in your own garden. Its wide crown can also provide privacy - especially if the houses are close together, it can protect private areas and shield the terrace from prying eyes.
The seating area made of exotic wood blends harmoniously into the Mediterranean garden landscape, creating a harmonious picture. Our tip – plant the palm tree in a pot first, which allows for a certain amount of design freedom in the summer.
A comfortable bench in the middle of the garden offers the opportunity toto relax outdoorsand plan the further design of the outdoor area in detail, or simply relax in your own oasis of well-being after a long day at work.
Garden designs that look as close to nature as possible are particularly attractive - water features, natural stone terraces and a small desert garden form a beautiful ensemble. The tall palm trees create exciting contrasts and add the finishing touches to the garden image.
The easy-care palm trees welcome guests in the front garden - in any case, the plants must be protected from frost, snow and strong winds in winter. In autumn you should also be careful that there is no waterlogging - the plants cannot tolerate this.
