Wasps and T. Fortunei?

We had a nest of wasps near our footpath.Solution ID location night time visit with kettle of boiling water. Result no more wasps!

I have never heard of wasps doing that to palms before but I'm sure your trachys will be fine. 😀

Regards,
Jay

Thanks Ian and Jay for your reply . I never thought that yellow jackets would eat the spears of my trachies. I was advised that the the trunk protection that they have has no cold protection value? I think the reason that they are cold hardy is because of this natural burlap trunk protection?I had zone 8 to 8b people say that they have stripped the trunk smooth removing all the old fronds as well as the burlap with no damage . The zone 8 to 8b maybe it will work and not having to deal with -20 temps for 2 to 3 weeks a year generally in Jan Feb . Any thoughts on this? 8) ❓

I'm not to sure if it actually helps with cold protection or not. Hey John did you check out Art Knapps lately? They have some good deals on citrus plants. I picked up a five gallon citrus for under $20. 😀 They also have a couple of five gallon size Yucca rec. for $20.

Regards,
Jay

Hi Jay . Thanx for the info I definitely want the Yucca rec. and the citrus as well . You sure don`t see them very often in nurseries around here. Hopefully the trend continues.
Regards ,John

This is my theory on removing the hair off a trunk of a trachycarpus fortunei.
If takil is suppose to be even hardier than fortunei then why does it develop a bare trunk over time. Or does it in a climate like Vancouver? I have never seen a takil without the hair on the trunk here in Van. I know there are not any old specimens but there are some that must be getting to be quite large. Also Fortunei will loose it's hair over time. Just check out some websites and see some of the fortunei from there native areas. They have bare trunks! I have a fortunei that has a trunk of around ten feet and it still has a very hairy trunk. I have never seen a fortunei with a trunk shed it's hair naturally here in the PNW and there are some old specimens now. If the climate was warmer then I believe they would shed naturally but because our climate is cool they do not. Therefore I believe that they are hardier with the hairy trunks and that is why I have not removed the hair on any of my trunks. I live in one of the warmest areas of Vancouver and I won't risk it.
Besides I don't mind the hairy trunks.
I also believe that the centre spear is the most important part of the palm to protect. I don't have to protect mine here but I would imagine in a zone 6b and lower you would.

Wes I think you are spot on with the natural characteristics of the Trachy as well as the Takil. Both trees have built in protection from the cold. Trachy grows the burlap cover for a reason the Takil probably does not need it as much when older as over milleniums it has adapted to it`s cold high altitude environment. The Trachy will soon follow suit in about 10,000 years "MY Guestimate"
Thanx for your input,
John

Just been reading a message from Steve Pope (one of UKs top guns on tree ferns) on the AFS Forum website that premature cutting of old tree fern fronds produce sugars which continue to exude for ages and attract wasps.The same may well also apply to palms like Washingtonias.I read somewhere that fronds should be left on palms as long as possible even if they do look a bit tatty!
Cheers: :hello2: Ian Mc