Effects of Leaf Removal on Survival of Transplanted Sabal Palms

Abstract

A large landscape Installation of mature sabal palms was utilized to determine if complete leaf removal, as opposed to leaving one-third of the canopy on the palm, would improve transplant success in this species. After eight months 95% of the palms completely defoliated were alive, versus 64% for palms transplanted with leaves. The original leaves left on palms in the latter treatment all died within one to two months and required subsequent manual removal. Among the surviving palms, canopy size of defoliated palms was slightly larger than in palms with leaves.