Fort Myers Beach • Lee County
Palm Installation in Fort Myers Beach, FL
Palms are the obvious choice for a beach yard, but the salt-tolerant ones are a short list. Coconut, cabbage (sabal) and Florida thatch palms all take Gulf exposure well, and plenty of yards are still being replanted after Hurricane Ian's surge. When planting next to a newly raised house, check how far the mature fronds will spread from the walls, stairs and power drop. UF/IFAS is specific about two things. A palm goes in at the depth it grew in the field or pot, never deeper, because buried trunks lead to chronic nutrient problems. And braces are strapped to the trunk with padding, never nailed into it, since a palm cannot heal the wound. In loose sand, bracing a tall palm until its roots take hold matters even more. One detail from the Town's dune plan: coconut palms do not count toward the native dune vegetation it measures, so they belong behind the dune, not in it.
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Where it comes up in Fort Myers Beach
Laguna Shores
Times Square area
Estrellita Drive area
Plants and materials that suit it in Fort Myers Beach
Questions
Which palms handle salt spray on the beach?
Coconut, sabal and Florida thatch palms are among the most salt-tolerant. Florida thatch and sabal are native, which also helps if you want native plantings. Keep palms on the landward side of any dune.
How deep should a new palm be planted?
At the same depth it was growing in the nursery, according to UF/IFAS. Palms planted too deep tend to show long-term nutrient deficiencies and decline. In sand, firm the backfill and water it in to remove air pockets rather than setting the palm lower.
Do new palms need bracing on Fort Myers Beach?
Tall palms usually do, because loose sand offers little grip until new roots grow. UF/IFAS recommends wooden braces strapped to padding on the trunk and warns against nailing into the trunk. Braces come off once the palm is anchored.