After a harsh winter and standing snow, my sago palms have developed something fuzzy (fungus?) on the trunks. I don't know exactly when it began, but how do I treat it or is it treatable? If so, how?
Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm
We have a sago palm and the top leaves always turn brown after the winter. The bottom ones are the ones that are turning green. I looked on your website about pruning and it only mentions about trimming bottom leaves. So what should I do?
You can go ahead and cut off the brown fronds, but only those as they do not grow back. Do not cut the green ones.
Sago palm is about 4 feet wide and 3 1/2 feet tall.
Sago palms do not like to be disturbed so any transplanting needs to be done with great care. Mature palms can be transplanted in early spring or late fall. Be sure to relocate the plant in adequate growing conditions--full sun, well-draining soil, etc. Include as much of the root system as possible when digging up and moving it. You may also want to consider trimming the plant back to prevent transplant shock. Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/learn-how-to-avoid-and-repair-transplant-shock-in-plants.htm
Move it while it's dormant, take as much root system as possible. Stake it well in it's new home, it's going to be slow to root back out. Tie the fronds up and insulate the whole thing the first winter, depending on what zone you're in, if you're in Florida, don't worry about the insulation.
If you're not a landscaper, hire this move out, it's going to suck.
Jason
10+ years landscaping
I planted a good size Sago about six years ago and have had no problems. It's grown well and now stands at about 5 1/2 feet tall but this past winter was harsh and now it has many brown stems. Not all, but quite a few. My question is, do I need to trim them or leave them be? Also, I have some others that are not nearly as big (roughly 2 feet tall). They also have been bitten.
You will need to remove the yellow and brown fronds, but only those, as they will not come back. Do not remove green fronds. These articles will helpyou as well:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm
One of my sago palms (all five of them planted in ground) has fronds lighter green than the rest of the palms, almost yellow green. I feed it with a palm food. It has a 'pup' on one side and the plant shows no signs of dying. I have been growing the sagos from 'pup's for several years.
The soil may have to much phosphorus, which is preventing it from taking up enough iron, which causes the yellow leaves. I would test the soil and fix the nutrient balance based on what the test suggests.
We moved to the NC coast and sagos normally live outside in this area but we had a very cold winter and all my leaves are dead. The plant appears alive (not mushy or rotten), and I need to know if I can prune them all off and save this plant. It is in a pot and about 2 ft. tall.
You will need to remove the dead growth (yellow and brown fronds), but only those, as they will not come back. Do not remove green growth. These articles will help you as well:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/how-to-tell-if-a-plant-is-dead-and-how-to-recover-an-almost-dead-plant.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/environmental/tips-for-saving-cold-damaged-plants.htm
It is hard to say how well they will grow back. Sago palms do not deal well with lost fronds, but they have been known to recover fine. It will take it some time to recover, if it does at all.
My sago palm has tiny yellow spots on the new fronds. What could be causing this? I cut off the old fronds, as they had turned yellow and brown.
It is likely a fungus. There are several that can create those yellow spots. Treat the plant with a fungicide. I like neem oil myself as it treats both fungus and pests and is safe for people and pests. This article has more information on it: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm