It’s January in Atlanta. The sky is grey, the wind is biting, and most yards in the neighborhood look like a graveyard of brown sticks. If you are looking at your palms right now and starting to panic, take a deep breath.
As someone who spends every day in the fields and in the Georgia clay, I’m here to tell you: Dormancy is not death. If you want a landscape that stays green while the neighbors turn brown, or if you want to save the palms you already have, you need to follow the "field-tested" rules—not the ones from a textbook.
1. Our Top Sellers: The Atlanta Classics
Our Windmill Palms and Sabal Palms are our #1 and #2 top sellers for a reason: they are built for this.
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Windmill Palms: These are the backbone of the Atlanta tropical look. They give you that tall, iconic trunk, and while they appreciate a quick wrap in their first year, they are absolute warriors in our climate.
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Sabal Palms: These are the classic "Cabbage Palms." Once they are rooted in our soil, they are tough as nails. If you have these in your yard, you can sleep easy tonight knowing they are standing tall.
2. The Mexican Fan Palm: Don't Panic!
We are seeing a huge surge in Mexican Fan Palms lately—people love the look, and they are quickly becoming a favorite. If you recently added one to your yard and it’s turning brown right now, relax. Like most palms in our region, the Mexican Fan goes dormant in the winter. It’s sleeping. Do not cut off those brown fronds yet. Those fronds act as natural insulation for the "heart" or the spear leaf of the palm. If you trim them now, you’re stripping away the plant's winter coat. Wait until the spring wake-up call to prune them back and hit them with fertilizer.
3. My Top Tips for Surviving a Cold Snap
When the forecast shows a freeze coming for Atlanta, don't just hope for the best. Use my three biggest "boots-on-the-ground" tips to protect your investment:
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Wrap Early: Don't wait for the ice. Wrap your palms—especially those new Windmills or Mexican Fans—the day before the cold weather moves in. More established palms can handle a day or two without being wrapped
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The Deep Water Trick: This is the secret most people miss. Water your roots deeply right before a freeze. Water coming from your house is usually around 45 degrees, which is much warmer than the frozen air. That wet soil acts as a "heat sink" to keep the root ball insulated.
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The Additive Boost: If possible, give your palms an additive like Superthrive during your deep soak to help the plant handle the stress of the temperature drop.
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Bring the Heat: If you have them, old-school C9 Christmas lights (the ones that actually get warm) or heat lamps work wonders. Wrap them around the trunk and turn them on at night to create a micro-climate of warmth.
4. The "Set It and Forget It" Kings
If you want to look out your window in 15-degree weather and see vibrant green without lifting a finger, you want a Needle Palm or a Sabal Minor. These stay green all winter long, completely unfazed by the frost.
The Bottom Line: Whether you have our top-selling Windmills or you’re trying out the Mexican Fans, the key is patience and the right protection. Your plants are resting—let them sleep, and they'll reward you in the spring.
