Its not only drought that can cause this problem. Usually it's caused by winter cold damage (maybe a combination of cold winter weather with wet weather). Pindos take a VERY long time to show winter damage. My unprotected pindo (it was a mild winter) started losing fronds around May from winter damage, but the middle fronds stayed green so it is alive. My protected one is growing (and had no damage) so that's how you know for sure that it survived the winter. Give the center frond a nice tug and it will pull out. Then treat with some peroxide and water well. If the fronds continue to die from the middle, then cut the trunk down about an inch or so. This is a last resort as trunk cutting in just the right spot sometimes will be enough to get some new fronds to grow, but it will take about 2 summers for it to look full again, but it will look nice before that. Good luck! Hope it makes it! -Alex

Troy, Your Alexandra could have an infestation of palm dart butterfly larvae by the sounds of it. They are green catapillars that roll the leaflets over and chew them giving them a tattered look. Many of the commercial insecticides such as Maldison should work. As for palm leaves not dropping off, it depends very much on the species of palm. Some are notorious for this, such as the Queen (Cocos), Cotton, and most date palms. I steer away from these and go for only self cleaning types (most palms are self cleaning anyway) Hope this helps. Andrew.

Where I live I am surrounded by fallen palm fronds - and as I have always seen the beauty in them - I set about trying to find ways to harness their beauty and began to create what you see here. It has been a journey of "trial" and "error" thats for sure - but now I am feeling pretty happy with the results. Ideas are always in my mind - so will put up some photos of my latest works in a month or so. Cheers.

Do you have a lawn care issue?