How to identify NPK deficiencies in your lawn, palms, and plants like a PRO! Pt 1

Do you ever notice your lawn is looking a little sad and yellow? Your palms are starting to resemble what hair looks like on a hot frizzy day and your flowering shrubs aren't well... flowering? Nothing to fret, it's most of the time an indication of a nutrient deficiency. In the last blog post, we dove in to what N-P-K stands for and how these major nutrients along with minors, are essential for growth, color, flowering, overall health, and stress resistance. Lets get started with ...

Palm tree displaying signs of Frizzle Top, characterized by yellowing and unhealthy fronds.

NITROGEN - N

Role: Fuels chlorophyll, leaf growth and overall vigor.

Mobility: Mobile. Remember, Nitrogen moves to new growth.

How to Identify Nitrogen Deficiency In:

• Palms:

  • You will notice older fronds are yellowing overall (no mottling),

  • The palm tree looks pencil-thin, usually the case if there has been a long-term deficiency

  • Narrow trunk diameter and stunted canopy.

Two palm trees with sparse, stunted canopies reflecting nitrogen deficiency.

• Lawn:

  • There is an overall uniform light green, yellow color on your grass.

  • Color isn't vibrant, but rather resembles a pale, washed out look.

  • Lawn is growing slow indicating poor recovery from mowing

  • Reduced density, sparse appearance

• Flowering Plants/Shrubs:

  • Stunted growth with overall yellowing of the leaves.

  • New leaves and shoots will be smaller in size.

  • Delayed and reduced flowering and fruit.

PHOSPHORUS - P

Role: Phosphorus is responsible for root development, flowering and fruiting.

Mobility: Mobile. Older tissue/leaves will show deficiencies first.

• Palms:

  • Stunted growth usually accompanied with small fronds

  • Older leaves may show necrosis or bronzing in color

• Lawn:

  • Weak rooting from poor establishment.

  • Slow, stunted growth.

  • Dark green to purple/red coloring on grass blades.

    

    Grass blades exhibiting red and purple discoloration, a classic sign of phosphorus deficiency.

• Flowering Plants/Shrubs:

  • Weak flowering and fruit set

POTASSIUM - K

Role: Potassium is vital in stress tolerance, disease resistance by strengthening cell walls and water regulation for drought tolerance. Potassium is essential in OVERALL root development and plant metabolism.

Mobility: Mobile. Older tissue/leaves will show deficiencies first.

• Palms:

  • Classic symptom is "Frizzle Top". Older fronds will show yellow/orange spotting with necrotic tips.

  • In advance stages, the trunk will start to taper in diameter leading to the top of the tree, resembling a pencil point.

Palm leaf exhibiting "Frizzle Top," characterized by yellowing and browning due to phosphorus deficiency.

• Lawn:

  • Scorching on leaf tip and margins.

  • Yellow-brown blade edges, especially under drought

  • Blade wilting and weak growth

• Flowering Plants/Shrubs:

  • Yellowing and necrosis on leaf edges.

  • Wilted leaves with possible scorching.

  • Fruit and/or flowers will be noticeably smaller and poorer in quality.

    

    Leaves exhibit signs of stress, including wilting, yellowing, and scorch spots, possibly indicating disease or environmental issues.

In PART 2, we will go over identifying MINOR nutrient deficiencies in your lawn, palms and shrubs.