Will My Leaning Palm Fall?

Q. We have a palm tree that is getting taller and is now starting to lean. Should we be concerned about it falling over? A couple different tree trimmers have told me not to worry, but I'm not sure of their judgement.

Leaning palm

A. If the water is applied to the soil out a distance 5 to 6 ft from the trunk in all directions and two feet deep, I agree with your landscape professionals and not to worry about it. Roots grow where there is water. If water is only available to palm roots two feet from the trunk, then the tree will have a problem staying upright as it gets taller.

Ever hear of hurricane palms? These are palm trees that were nearly blown over in typhoons or strong winds and continued to grow leaning.

This is a coconut palm near our Family Farm, MoCa Family Farm, in Batangas, Philippines. It was nearly blown over in a typhoon but kept on growing...only at an angle.

            One of the jobs of plant roots is to anchor the tree in the ground. Your job is to provide water far enough from the trunk so its roots can grow and anchor the plant. If roots can grow out deeply and several feet from the trunk, the roots will provide enough anchorage for the palm tree to stay upright.