It is never recommended that palms planted in planter areas that are already confining, that these palms should not have any turf, groundcovers, or any other plants that will compete with your new palms ability to breath and evaporate excess water. This makes it more difficult for the palm to regrow its root system. This can lead to the failure of the palm because there is not a lot of room for extra stress to the palm because when it arrives to be planted it will have endured some shock from being delivered to your site, until the palm has had a chance to establish itself it is recommended we leave the area around the palm alone (Ask me for plant suggestions). A clear area of at least 2-feet with 3 being much better should be maintained around the palm trunks. This will allow air to circulate and sunlight to penetrate which in turn will create an environment that is dry and not conducive to fungal activity. Your palm needs a time to be watered and a period of time in between waterings for a chance to dry out and breath.

Another important issue my arborist told me or I read, is that if flowers surround the palm, they will tend to have very shallow root systems compared to the palms. If water is applied frequently to these flowers to keep them in good shape, it can result in the top of the palm root system being kept in a saturated condition. This can lead to serious fungal infections over time that can eventually kill the palm tree. In other words, your new large valuable palm can be put at risk for a few flowers. It is a much better horticultural practice to keep the flowers away from the palms.