Two date palms were planted in the center island of Paseo de las Flores near the entry monument in January. Questions have come up about why are the trees still tied up at the very top. We thought a short article might help to satisfy the interest.

When large palms are transplanted, you’ll often see the fronds (leaves) gathered up and tied together in a bundle pointing upward around the trunk. This is done for a few practical reasons:
1. Protecting the terminal bud (heart). The fronds are pulled up and tied inward over the single growing bud at the crown. This shields that critical bud from sun, wind, and physical damage during the stress of transplant. Since a palm has only one growing point, losing it kills the tree.
2. Reducing water loss (transpiration). A newly transplanted palm has lost most of its roots and can barely take up water. Bundling the fronds reduces the total leaf surface area exposed to sun and wind, dramatically cutting down on moisture loss until the roots recover enough to keep up with the tree’s water demand.
3. Reducing wind resistance. Loose, open fronds act like sails and create enormous leverage on the trunk and root zone. Tying them up streamlines the canopy and reduces the force of wind on an already poorly anchored tree.
4. Easier handling and transport. Tied fronds also simply make the tree easier and safer to move by crane or truck without fronds breaking or catching on things.

The fronds are typically left tied for a few months and then released once the tree has had time to establish new roots and acclimate to its new site. The older outer fronds may die off during this period, but new growth from the protected heart is the sign the palm is recovering successfully.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​