- 1). Fertilize the palm tree with a magnesium-rich fertilizer in the fall. This provides the tree with the nutrients necessary to recover from a frost.
- 2). Spray the palm tree at the heart of the trunk with a fungicidal copper spray in the weeks leading up to the frost season and before any frosts occur. The spray reduces the deadly bacteria that occur when palm trees are damaged by frost; in many cases, the frost itself is not what actually kills the tree.
- 3). Water the soil around the palm tree in the days before a frost to keep it moist. Watered soil absorbs solar heat during the day and will radiate that heat through the tree at night.
- 4). Cover small palm trees, such a needle palms, with a box or blanket, or bury them with straw until the frost is over. This cover should be left on for no more than five days and is only helpful in areas with occasional frost.
- 5). Cover the bud with a cold-weather tree blanket; the bud is the site where new palm fronds will grow. Only use tree blankets for three consecutive days; if you are in a cold climate, cover the bud at night and remove the blanket during the day
- 6). Wrap the trunk of the palm tree with frost cloth or burlap cloth and secure it with twine -- the thicker the layer of frost cloth, the warmer the core temperature of the trunk.
- 7). Wrap the tree with outdoor strand lights, if desired, so the trunk can benefit from the warmth of the light bulbs.
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