Strange Date palm problem
 

The fronds on my Canary Island date palm are snapping and keeling
over. This has happened to most of them. I thought originally
that it might be squirrel damage, but I am unsure now as the inside
of some of the fronds are an orangey brown further down from where
they have snapped. Is it squirrels, or some sort of dreaded lurgy?

Strange Date palm problem
 

In article m,
says...


The fronds on my Canary Island date palm are snapping and keeling
over. This has happened to most of them. I thought originally
that it might be squirrel damage, but I am unsure now as the inside
of some of the fronds are an orangey brown further down from where
they have snapped. Is it squirrels, or some sort of dreaded lurgy?

Its most likely winter cold damage but it could also be Red Palm Weavil,
no cases yet in the UK except in imported palms but it is devastating
palms in southern Europe
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Strange Date palm problem
 

Charlie Pridham wrote:

In article m,
says...


The fronds on my Canary Island date palm are snapping and keeling
over. This has happened to most of them. I thought originally
that it might be squirrel damage, but I am unsure now as the inside
of some of the fronds are an orangey brown further down from where
they have snapped. Is it squirrels, or some sort of dreaded lurgy?

Its most likely winter cold damage but it could also be Red Palm Weavil,
no cases yet in the UK except in imported palms but it is devastating
palms in southern Europe

Cold damage would make sense. I noticed the fronds starting to
collapse last summer after the bad winter, this coincided with the
arrival of some squirrels and I put 2 and 2 together and got 5.
Thanks for your answer.
Steve.