Use colorant, not marker for palm fronds

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Question: Last year in one of your columns, you mentioned a dye for palm fronds that have turned brown because of frost. Could you please advise me where to find this?

These paints and dyes are typically used on turfgrass by professionals. I have seen products used to color turfgrass in retail nurseries here, but typically not in garden centers. The difference between the two is that garden centers usually are housed inside of mass merchandisers, while retail nurseries are in the business of selling plants only and those products that might be used to support or accessorize plants.

Try calling a couple of retail nurseries to ask if they carry paints or dyes for turfgrass, or they may call them turfgrass colorants. You can use this product for other plants, as well. Stay away from colorants used as markers. Markers are for identifying where sprays, such as insecticides or herbicides, have been applied and usually are a blue-green in color. They won't damage the plants, but they may look a little psychedelic.

Markers do not look natural, but the dyes and paints will have a natural green appearance. These can be applied with a compressed air sprayer like you would use for spraying for insects and diseases. Do not use a hose end applicator or it will be everywhere. A common complaint is that products like these are not "natural." But neither is freeze damage.

Bob Morris is an associate professor with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.