The Neighborhood Gardener
June 2026
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Cold-Hardy Palms
Palms are found throughout Florida, but only some can withstand colder temperatures. If you live in an area that experiences freezes, you might want to consider getting a cold-hardy palm. An excellent option for temperate landscapes, cold-hardy palms can give your home a distinct Florida vibe. Of course, a single palm’s ability to deal with intermittent cold spells is dependent upon many factors, but UF/IFAS recommends a number of cold-hardy palm species that are better able to withstand freezes.
Pruning Palms
Highly valued in the landscape, palms can be an investment and homeowners often feel the need to manage their palms’ aesthetics. Pruning is a common way to change a palm’s appearance. But it’s important to understand why and how to prune. The type of palm and its relative health both factor into UF/IFAS pruning recommendations. This Gardening Solutions article not only covers the “why” and “how” of pruning, but also what, and maybe more importantly, what not to prune off your palm.
Palm Nutrition and Fertilization
Palms are quite prized in Florida, waving on our state flag and proudly lining the streets of towns and cities. But these crowning jewels often suffer from nutrient deficiencies that can be detrimental to the plant. It’s important to note that these deficiencies are much more easily prevented than corrected. A new article from Gardening Solutions lists the symptoms and probable causes of the most common nutritional deficiencies found in Florida palms, and offers management and prevention tips from UF/IFAS experts.
Wendy’s Wanderings
Last month, I had the opportunity to visit our nation’s capital. While most people head straight for the monuments and museums, gardeners tend to seek out conservatories and arboretums. The U.S. Botanic Garden was at the top of my list, as well as the USDA National Arboretum. Located a few miles from the National Mall, this 446-acre research and display garden offers a remarkable collection of plants, landscapes and horticultural treasures. It was there that I encountered one of the most memorable garden features I have seen — a garden folly.
Plant of the Month: Royal Palm
Royal palm is aptly named for its majestic presence in the landscape. It’s best suited for South Florida, where it is native and works nicely as a specimen plant, lining streets and parks. Royal palm (Roystonea regia) grows very tall and commanding in size, reaching 50 to 70 feet and spreading 20 to 25 feet wide. This mighty palm can survive cold temperatures to about 28°F, which means it can grow as far north as USDA Hardiness Zone 10A. It can surprisingly grow in both wet and dry soil conditions.
June in Your Garden
While it has been warm, June heralds the official arrival of summer. Plant heat-loving flowers like celosia, crossandra (pictured) and vinca. In the vegetable garden, gardeners can plant sweet potatoes, pigeon peas and tropical spinaches. You can lightly prune summer-flowering shrubs, like crapemyrtle, hibiscus, oleander and ixora; these plants bloom on new growth. The warm, rainy season is ideal for planting palms, too.
For more month-by-month gardening tips, check out the Florida Gardening Calendar. Three different editions of the calendar provide specific tips for each of Florida’s gardening regions—North, Central and South.
What’s Going On?
If your Master Gardener Volunteer program or Extension office is having an event, be sure to share it with us.