Palms provide that tropical look to the landscape while adding to your property value. Most palms are well adapted to our soils and require minimum care to establish and maintain. Factors to consider when selecting a palm include eventual mature size, single or multi trunked and feather or fan shaped fronds. Palms can be planted year round, though palms establish faster and with fewer problems during summer. Many palms suffer from being planted too deeply. This essentially suffocates the roots, inviting nutritional disorders, provoking insect damage and root disease. It is important to water a newly planted palm for the first several months. Support large palms with braces against the trunk for the first six months to prevent swaying during strong winds. Nails should never be used to attach braces to the trunk of palms. For more information on selecting a palm for your landscape read University of Florida publication Ornamental Palms http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep009 or call the Palm Beach County Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardener Volunteer Hotline at 561-233-1700.