Sago palms are usually used as specimen plants to give a tropical touch to the landscape. The sago has attractive deep green, feather-like leaves with a graceful, weeping growth habit.
The common landscape error many people make with sago palms is not allowing enough space for them to develop into a mature plant. It’s not uncommon to see sago palms planted too close to a building, sidewalk, or driveway. Even though they grow slowly, they can easily reach six to eight feet in width and four to six feet in height.
Sagos growing in a landscape need to be fertilized three to four times a year, March through September, with a special fertilizer for palms
Frizzle top, caused by the deficiency of manganese, is common in sago palms. As the condition develops new leaves near the top of the plant first turn yellow and then tan and take on a zigzag or accordion, giving rise to the term “frizzle top”. To correct and/or prevent frizzle top, apply one to five pounds (depending on plant size) of manganese sulfate to the soil annually. Frizzle top will be more common where soil pH is too alkaline or where roots are staying too wet, thus making the manganese less available.
Scale insects are common on sagos. Inspect the underside of leaves on a regular basis, especially if you notice leaf-yellowing or black sooty mold on the foliage. To control, treat with insecticidal oil, being sure to obtain coverage of the underside of the leaves.
Information Courtesy of University of Florida County Extension.