When to plant the palms?

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:02 pm

Hello:) I have 6 palms (Trachy, 2 sabal minors, Butia, two Washingtonia robusta, and temperatures are supposed to be in the 60s-70s all week, with lows down to 33F or so. I'm wondering if I should go ahead and plant these palms, or wait a month or so? Any ideas? Thanks!

teebee · Post by **teebee** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:09 pm

If it were me I'd plant them all except the robusta because I assume you're not going to getting a highly dangerous cold front that will get to the killing range for those. I'd probably wait another 3-4 weeks for the robusta.

One question what if the weather turns nasty? do you have a plan what to in case they are planted? If you do great but if not a couple weeks never hurt anything.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 3:48 pm

What are the soil temps up there?

905palms · Post by **905palms** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 4:02 pm

KSpalmguy, good for you to have purchased hardy tropicals, and I like your enthusiasm, because I see you on other forums asking the same. To answer your own question, what do you think you should do based on your observations? Go with your educated gut.

If it was me, in your zone, I would wait 30 painful days. This is insurance and patience combined. This is not a traditional winter, and you spent good money on these. Your reward to yourself will be grand if you wait.

Cheers...

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 4:11 pm

Kansas is very unpredictable, so I'm thinking I'll heed your advice and wait...a front could very easily push in from Canada and kill my plants...I'd hate to lose them so soon! Thanks for the input everyone!

teebee · Post by **teebee** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 6:00 pm

kspalmguy wrote:a front could very easily push in from Canada and kill my plants...

Why is it always our fault?

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:26 pm

teebee wrote:
kspalmguy wrote:a front could very easily push in from Canada and kill my plants...
Why is it always our fault?

Oops..sorry;) We can both blame the Arctic Circle

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 10:18 pm

Oops..sorry;) We can both blame the Arctic Circle

We all blame Igor, that usually works fine.

kspalms: you've got more patience than I do.
I'd plant them...planted my brahea and euro palm early last March

Have plastic or cardboard covers nearby that you can just form an A-frame around them, duct-taped shut.
It would only take 10 min for 6 plants to throw stuff around them...I've done it.

Oh, and don't go out at night...

Hope you're selecting a good sunny position for all of 'em.
Except in the case of my Trachy, which is on East side of the house, out of strong p.m. sun and brutal windstorms (which always shredded it previously).

Barb

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:12 am

I was thinking about planting them now because they're not doing so hot inside the house...however, our last frost date average is April 11...I'm planning on planting the Trachy at the back (east side) of the house, where it'll only get morning sun. Washys will go on front (west) side of the house, where they will get sun all afternoon. Butia will probably go in the south yard, out in the open, where it will make a good specimen palm, assuming it grows old here:) Still not sure what I'm gonna do with the Sabals, might just plant them along the south side of the house where they'll get winter sun, and just let them go and do their own thing...

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:50 am

Also, would a freeze (-10 to -7C) kill a Butia, or prevent it from ever fruiting? It's very unlikely, but it could very well get that cold here yet. I'm wanting to expose these plants to some cold, average lows this time of year are -4 to 2C...

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:39 am

would a freeze (-10 to -7C) kill a Butia

Those temps are way too low.
It'd kill any plant that just came out of the house/garage.
In that case, I recommend waiting a month.

IMO you've picked out good spots for your palms.
The Trachy will appreciate the East side if your place gets a lot of wind.
Unless the wind is from the east

Barb

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:18 am

Yeah, I'm gonna wait then. I'd rather have marginally healthy palms indoors for another month than dead palms in a week:P Most of the time, wind is out of the north here, and we have a large tree row north of our house. Unfortunately, living out in the country (about 30 miles from Wichita), the wind is much stronger at our place than forecast...Luckily though, most of our area is heavily forested which tends to block the wind.

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:09 pm

Also, while we're on the topic of planting, does anyone have any good instructions on planting my palms? I've read and heard soooo many different things...I've heard to plant at surrounding soil level, and I've heard to plant above. I've heard to amend the soil with sand and I've heard not to...there's so many different variables...also, I'm not 100% sure what my soil type is. There's some clay, but I really don't know how much. Lol seems like there's too many different variables to know how to plant the palms the best way possible, but does anyone know of a nice, clear answer? Thanks:)

turtile · Post by **turtile** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:46 pm

kspalmguy wrote:Also, while we're on the topic of planting, does anyone have any good instructions on planting my palms? I've read and heard soooo many different things...I've heard to plant at surrounding soil level, and I've heard to plant above. I've heard to amend the soil with sand and I've heard not to...there's so many different variables...also, I'm not 100% sure what my soil type is. There's some clay, but I really don't know how much. Lol seems like there's too many different variables to know how to plant the palms the best way possible, but does anyone know of a nice, clear answer? Thanks:)

Plant at soil level and apply mulch. Make the hole the exact size of the pot, do not amend anything.

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:54 am

Thanks! How deep should mulch be? And radius of mulch around trunk?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:10 am

Mulch for summer shouldn't touch the trunk, leave a space of an inch or so around the trunk.
As to circumference, I'd make it twice the "dripline" of the plant.

For winter, mulch can be liberally applied, again, don't suffocate the trunk, keep an inch away.

If you've got ANY clay you'll have drainage issues, so you'll have to water sparingly.
So choose a site where water drains freely AWAY (not TOWARD it).

I've never liked adding sand.
Stays too wet for too long.

Some palms like a swamp, most don't.

Barb

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:33 am

Awesome...got some straight answers...thanks everyone, it really helps! I'm planning on planting the Washy robusta on the corner of the house, would 2 meters or so be far enough away from the house?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 8:45 am

would 2 meters or so be far enough away from the house?

Depends on your roof overhang

as fronds are really long and very stiff with age.
Yeah, 2 meters should be fine.

My two are 5 feet from house, a bit close.
But I lost a top bud to fungus last winter on one, so it's got a permanent lean of 20-or so degrees.
Fortunately, away from the house.

Barb

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:02 am

Oh wow! Well, seems like fate here prevailed in your favor;) How tall is yours?

turtile · Post by **turtile** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:45 pm

kspalmguy wrote:Thanks! How deep should mulch be? And radius of mulch around trunk?

2-4 inches will do it. Palm roots don't have a set distance but they do travel much further than the drip line (don't believe in the drip line myth!).

teebee · Post by **teebee** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:05 pm

turtile wrote:(don't believe in the drip line myth!).

I agree. I planted my trachy last year and 3 months after i planted it I found a root almost 20' from the trunk ....

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:25 pm

How tall is yours?

Up to my nose if I don't cut off the fungus fronds

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 2:50 pm

Well the good news is, they grow fast:) I'm thinking about getting the Trachy outside tomorrow, it is declining rapidly in the house...if it freezes hard, I could wrap it with lights and a tarp and protect it...when is the best time to plant, early morning, noon, or late afternoon?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 5:56 pm

When the air temp is comfortable for you and the palm.
The soil will be cold, so it'll get a shock.
But your 48F daytime temps are better than perfect.

Plan on even wrapping it with a big piece of cardboard for a nite or two, depending on temps.

Barb

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:25 pm

That's a very good idea, would I want to use a heat source (lights etc) within the cardboard to keep it warm? Or as long as the spear is covered to protect from moisture, will it be ok? Sorry about all these questions by the way, I'm just trying to learn all I can. Lol

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:11 pm

I wouldn't use lights for heat inside the cardboard.
Cardboard is incredibly good at holding out wind and keeping temps mild, if its well taped.

You want to have the palm exposed to temps a little cooler than where it's been for 5 months, but not 10 or 15 degrees lower (that wouldn't be good).

Check your nightime lows forecast.

During a sunny day, if temps are 48F or over, give it some water every few days when the ground has warmed up a bit from the sun.
Once the heat hits, pour the water on.

Sorry about all these questions by the way, I'm just trying to learn all I can. Lol

Never too many Qs!

We all learn something from all posts.
Some things work, some don't.
It's the ideas that count.

Hope you have great planting weather.
Look forward to seeing the results.

Barb

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 8:10 am

one thing about mulch:
I wouldn't apply it at all this time of year when planting a palm.
Most people pull it back to allow ground to warm up.

Great for holding moisture and keeping roots cool in summer though.

Barb

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:06 am

Alright thanks! I'm really hoping my Washingtonia filibustas arrive today...lol

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:39 am

Last question

Should I cultivate the ground with a rototiller or something before planting the palms? I also bought some of that weed preventing cloth to place under the mulch, since the washy will be planted in what is essentially a flower bed...

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 4:59 pm

Well this bums me out like no other:( Found the perfect place to plant my Trachy...this little flower bed in my backyard that my brother and I built spring of 2012...Anyway, we planted a Wisteria there that my mom is in love with...I dug up a small area in this flower bed, and just under the weed cloth under the mulch, wisteria roots are EVERYWHERE...is there any way I can still plant the Trachy here without killing it or the wisteria? Also, does the soil look too "clayish"? Lol Thanks!

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lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:25 pm

Looks like clay to me.

Have no idea what the wisteria's roots would do to a planted Trachy there.
But wisteria's top growth--at about 15 to 20 feet a year, needing a tall stout arbor--would soon enclose the entire area in shade.

Hope others chime in here.

Barb

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:38 pm

I did the old mason jar soil test, turns out my soil is about 10% sand and 40-50% clay...so it might be ok...if it matters, there's only one or two places in my yard that turn swampy...and they're nowhere near where I wanna plant the palm...thing is, the wisteria has grown like crazy, so I can't really imagine the soil is too bad...

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:43 pm

I'd make an entirely new bed for the Trachy away from the wisteria bed.

905palms · Post by **905palms** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 2:18 pm

I suppose you ran out of patience and decided to plant them anyways eh?...lol

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:07 pm

You're not going to hurt the Wisteria; they are tough. It will be more a matter of the Wisteria out-competing the Trachy. Anyway, do-able.

kspalmguy · Post by **kspalmguy** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:14 pm

Lol nope;) I'm still trying to find another place:P Thanks for the advice/help everyone, I really appreciate it!

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When to plant the palms?

When to plant the palms?

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