Next winter….palm protection I’m going to try. – Page 2 – Cold Hardy Palms – PalmsNorth.com

sashaeffer · 2015-03-08T09:50:31Z

We're all looking for the best protection methods for our outdoor planted palms and each season we learn new ways to protect them.Want to share experience with one method I tried this winter and an idea for next winter.First, after seeing something like this posted by hardyjim in Iowa and not being able to find them online a year ago they are now plentiful and variety and cheap to buy as well. They seem to be perfect for smaller palms in the ground. I had one string of mini lights on a thermocube and this Sabal was planted next to my house that faces south. My main concern was snow cover damaging the self supporting "dome" but snow pretty much slid off and didn't cause any issue. I will by more of these for smaller palms in the fall, and hopefully larger sizes will be available as wellI've used these plastic barrels I get from work to cover other larger palms as they are very sturdy and simply put a piece of thicker plexiglass over the top with a brick to hold it downProblem is, it doesn't really have any insulation properties so I tried looking online for a styrofoam "barrel" or even two "C's" that I could join together to form a "tube" that could be stackable as palm grew. I looked everywhere under a variety of word searches and didn't turn up anything although I could find pictures online showing what I had in mind, but with no link on where to purchase like this...know I can stack these barrels and support them in the wind by outside fence posts with PVC tubing over them that will allow for growing height as palm grew using ratching straps. So, I thought I would try sprayable Styrofoam in cans to line the inside of the barrel, although I didn't know if it would stick to the sides. I wanted to share the following pic to show what 1 can will do for coverage ($2.50 per can on sale) and to show that indeed the foam will stick to the sides. I will say, you have to put the barrel on it's side like in picture so foam doesn't run down the sides. It only takes 10 minutes or so for it to cure enough that you can roll the barrel around to spray more foam. Also after that 10 minutes you can use your hand, or maybe rolling pin to smooth it out

sashaeffer

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Picture of it last fall before putting stuff away. Looking really good too 🙁

Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

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Posted : 09/03/2015 9:29 am

lucky1

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Gorgeous second pic, Scott.
Wow.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 09/03/2015 11:13 am

hardyjim

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Ok...definitely not a Waggie-lol

I missed that you cut the leaves...the spear looks ok
but I would keep an eye on the fan blades, they close
when the spear has been severed-but like you said...
its already been treated.

Thx 4 tasking time to post the pics.

Posted : 09/03/2015 11:31 am

chadec

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Hope that trachy pulls through, I know how it feels to be unsure.

Posted : 09/03/2015 7:44 pm

sashaeffer

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I just keep checking the spears(more than one) and all are firm.

We're having a great week/10 days of weather of warmth, and no rain. If that changes and rain is forecast then will cover the center to keep it dry until I see fronds, spears pushing out more.

Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

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Posted : 09/03/2015 8:06 pm

hardyjim

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good plan

Posted : 10/03/2015 10:32 am

sashaeffer

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There probably isn't a worst place for a palm like that than where it's at since it's in shade most of the time no matter the season and only gets direct sun late afternoon till sunset. I think it will be fine, just slower to recover there. If it does die, I'm making a road trip to San Antonio TX in May with my truck and trust me, it won't come back empty anyway 😉 if if I needed to would buy a larger specimen or Sabal Palmetto and put there.

Check out this post (text and pic) from a facebook thread. One of the best comparison picture I've ever seen.

'Washingtonia robusta, Sabal palmetto, Phoenix canariensis, Washingtonia filifera, and Trachycarpus fortunei" (taken this year)

from "hardy palms and exotics" on facebook. Picture taken Carlsbad, NM and only the trunks were wrapped/protected. Not the crown or fronds.

Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

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Posted : 10/03/2015 3:53 pm

lucky1

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Great comparison shot, Scott.
That CIDP looks like mine today 😆

As always, the Trachy wins.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 10/03/2015 4:02 pm

sashaeffer

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And the Sabal!

Have seen some other threads on various FB palm pages about how Sabal Palmetto's might be more cold hardy than previously thought.

I have a 4 footer I over wintered in the ground and looks fantastic and even pushed a spear over the winter.

Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

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Posted : 10/03/2015 4:04 pm

lucky1

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The biggest one is a Sabal, I presume?

even pushed a spear over the winter.

Yet some people from milder zones report losses... 😕

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 10/03/2015 4:13 pm

sashaeffer

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This S. Palmetto, along with another Trachy about the sames size both are on the South side of the house where they had a lot of natural warming vs the one damaged that faces the West. Also have a S. Minor about 4/5 ft tall on south side and over protected it and it got heat damaged, but will come back as well.

Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

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Posted : 10/03/2015 4:17 pm

sashaeffer

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Needle palm minimal protected

Sabal minor. Heat damaged, and cut off the nice big fronds it had, but crown appears ok and am sure will come back. Next year will just put barrel over it and no heat.

Sabal Palmetto looks just as good as Needle. Had cage around it, and one string of C7's

Little European fan palm I bought at Walmart in California when I was there for $8. Bought two. Both planted on south side of house, but this one gets more sun. Other one (not pictured) lived, but heat damaged and just has one frond. Just rose cone and 50 mini lights inside kept it happy.

Windmill Palm. This was transplanted to here last year. Almost died from the move, but after doing a hurricane cut, came back strong in the fall and showing lots of promise here. Zero damage from winter.