Effect of Leaf Removal and Tie Up on Juvenile, Transplanted

This study investigates the effect of removing leaves and tying up leaves when transplanting palms. Several combinations of leaf tie up and/or removal during transplanting did not affect establishment and survival of small, juvenile Canary Island date palms (Phoenix canariensis Hort. ex Chabaud) and queen palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Becc.). For both species, complete leaf removal resulted in the least amount of new leaf and root growth. None of the combinations resulted in more new leaf or root growth or reduced leaf transpiration rates and leaf water potential than no leaf removal and no tie up. Leaf tie and/or removal appear to offer no benefit to transplanted, juvenile palms provided the root ball and backfill are kept moist.