Need a palm tree tutorial (Port Charlotte, Anna Maria: house, landscaping, inspections)

[Michiganders]

We just purchased a home in Port Charlotte (built 1989). Landscaping was recently done on this home, and "palm" trees planted around the home and pool lanai. To me, these are way too close to the foundation, as I envision the roots in the future may cause concrete to crack, but the neighbors seem to say that palm trees do not do this like deciduous trees.

Any native Floridians here available to educate me on palms? We were also told we had a single "undesirable" variety of palm tree that the neighbor cut down for us. What maintenance needs to be done, and for what kind of palm trees. We went to Anna Maria Island and noticed the workers there cutting coconuts off the palm tree....we assume so that nobody would get hurt. Which palms have nuts? We noticed some have orange "apricot" like fruit. Any of these edible?

[MikMal]

I've found the website with the U. of Fl. Gardening Dept. to be good. It may be a start for some of your answers.

[DennisDaMenace]

All palms have nuts, they are actually seeds. When they turn red or orange you can propagate them, and grow new palms with them.

You don't have to worry about their root systems, they won't disturb your foundation. Palms don't have a root system like the trees that you are used to. The next time you one being transplanted look and see for yourself.

Some palms are self tailing. Which means the " leaf" or frond falls off, others have to be cut off. That's about the only maintenance that's required. Other than occasional fertilization, you don't need to do anything to them.

As for what's desirable, or not desirable, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you shouldn't let your neighbor dictate which one is desirable.

Yes palm seeds are edible. Have you heard of Acai? That comes from a palm. The heart of the palm is also edible, and quite tasty. But I don't recommend chopping down your landscape for dinner.

[TamRE]

If you have pets, just be careful because many of the palm seeds are poisonous. My brother's dog got permanent liver damage from eating a couple of the seeds and was in the vet hospital for a couple of weeks and almost died.

[Michiganders]

I've actually browsed the net for info before the post, but didn't find much regarding the root...just that they are related to grasses.

How about septic systems? Do palm trees cause trouble with the drain field? We had a new tank put in with the house as the old tank had a leak detected during inspections. In Michigan, you don't want any trees near your drain field, but here it seems there are palm trees that may be very close to my tank and drain field.

[DennisDaMenace]

Any trees root can damage your septic system but, palms have a very small root system. Go to a nursery that sells palms and see for yourself. I wouldn't plant a tree directly on top of it. But I wouldn't worry about one that's planted close it either.