The nice thing about a taller palm tree is that it can be used as (part of )the support 😉

Barb,

I have. Larger diameter PVC. Still foundation posts buried, perhaps cemented into the ground. Easy to hide during the year, then can just slide the PVC pipe into the ones in the ground and build from there. Have thought of either using the green house panels that can be bought at Menards, OR most likely that clear reinforced plastic green house wrap I told you about. Top, ceiling will be another piece of Lexan clear plastic. Cheap and unbreakable.

Yeah my palm got frosted on last night but it didn't hurt it at all, I think it would have to get down pretty cold, and this winter so far has been mild, the coldest it's gotten was 14 F. Plus they changed the zone map now if you just go a few miles south from me your in zone 7a, im not sure if I trust that though. I have coverings nearby I didn't take it all apart it's in the shed waiting to be needed. I think it's good to give them fresh air, while it was covered it shot out two new leaves. Also when my palm gets like 12 ft tall, ill just leave it and hope it lives, it will be an experiment.

Also when my palm gets like 12 ft tall, ill just leave it and hope it lives, it will be an experiment.

Then you'll hope you're a 7A for sure, Bryce.
It'd kill me to work so hard at keeping them protected and then they die anyway years later.

Scott, I like your PVC idea more and more.
Almost like building with Lego, expandable.
Probably better than trying to enlarge a wooden structure.

a taller palm tree is that it can be used as (part of )the support

a long stick supported by tying to the palm trunk? 😯

Barb

So far, the small one I build has worked great, and I'll always leave the "footings" in the ground so only takes a few minutes to re-assemble the next time I have to use it.

With my large Windmill that I will be planting I'll do a better job documenting the process especially since it will be covering a much larger Palm. I'm thinking to since I'll have to deal with more wind in that location I will make it a Triangle instead of a square....or even roundish.(flexable PVC)

Good idea, Scott.
Pyramid-shape, or rounded, will shed snow versus building up and threatening collapse from snowload.

Also when my palm gets like 12 ft tall, ill just leave it and hope it lives, it will be an experiment.

Then you'll hope you're a 7A for sure, Bryce.
It'd kill me to work so hard at keeping them protected and then they die anyway years later.

Scott, I like your PVC idea more and more.
Almost like building with Lego, expandable.
Probably better than trying to enlarge a wooden structure.

a taller palm tree is that it can be used as (part of )the support

a long stick supported by tying to the palm trunk? 😯

Barb

When a Washy gets 5-6 feet of trunk going you can trim it down and
put 4-5 / 1" PVC strips along the trunk then x-mas lights,your wrap and the
insulation......heating just the trunk area-etc. 8)

Hey Jim, what are you gonna do next season with that Y. aloifolia.....looks like you may need a bigger greenhouse!

I already cut it down 2' to fit this year,kinda lazy on my part
but I am not really sure what to do about it's size-I will take
the next year to figure that out now that I have time........

Jim, let the Y. aloifolia trunk grow through the top of the greenhouse and let us know when the top is killed off. That would be a cool test.

While we're on the topic...what are we going to do when these palms are 10 or 12 feet tall????

Anybody thought ahead that far?
And no, Jim, we can't cut them back down to four feet so they fit the protection! 😆

Barb

I thought ahead that far and am just living with the fact that I'll have to build bigger enclosures. I'm still trying to find some large enough from the get to to ship up here at a fair rate so that I don't have to wait years to have some large specimens.

I think Jim's onto something with his comment:

When a Washy gets 5-6 feet of trunk going you can trim it down and
put 4-5 / 1" PVC strips along the trunk then x-mas lights,your wrap and the
insulation......heating just the trunk area-etc.

It never even occurred to me to do that! 😉
By "trimming it down" (for newbies), Jim does not mean cutting the trunk lower/growing bud off.
At least I hope not!

Two Qs for Jim: So why cut anything if petioles are tied?
Would you ever use pipe heating tape to wrap the trunk (like Erik did) to include the growing bud BEFORE attaching the PVC pipes?

Doug, I doubt it's practical/logical for us to build larger and larger wooden enclosures.
Your palms will grow like crazy this year with that nice protection. 😀

Barb

No,your right,you don't need to cut anything off if it's all tied off.

You especially don't want to cut if your palm is in a marginal
GDD zone....not sure how many times a Washy would come
back from being cut back here but as you go south that should improve.

I decided to cover my trachy back up it's going to be in the lower 20's the next few days. We are having a little cold spell, it was uncovered for about a week and a half.