Well the unfun part of the palm hobby in a cold climate has started since it's that time of year to start putting some of them in protection for the Winter. So far, we've been lucky here in Omaha, NE with a pretty mild fall and I'd like to leave most of what I have un protected still for a while but will be gone one whole weekend and can't take a chance on bad weather. Going to document what I do and species ongoing here and with a facebook page album link here as well.
I did want to highlight one palm I bought this year from Steve Anderson that is in the ground...a Cape Hatteras Sabal. Has been in the ground since mid/late summer and it really seems to prefer that vs the nice grow pot it came in. I have 6 ft of heat tape around the root ball and a string of C7 25 count Christmas lights (with some bulbs unscrewed so I don't over heat the space). The heat tape has a built in thermostat and the Christmas lights are attached to a thermocube. In reality, the Christmas lights "could" keep the heat tape from ever turning on so it's really just there for EXTREME cold. It will have a semi transparent plastic barrel around it with bags of mulch to help keep cold winds from getting inside. For the top I was able to score some 2x2 square thick plexiglass panels at work to simply lay on the top with bricks to hold it down. I've used the plexiglass method before and it really helps to allow me to take it off easily on nice winter days, or to simply "vent" excess moisture and humidity from the enclosure. Humidity has been my number one problem when over wintering in any of my protection methods. I will also have wireless thermometer to maintain temps for this palm.
Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com
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That should do the trick! Put me on the record as predicting no cold damage.
Mexican Fan Palm 2nd winter being in ground. First pic when planted Spring 2012 until now. Will be it's 2nd Winter.
And now Fall 2013.....
The top will be a heavy Mil clear plastic bag like I used last year which worked just fine as I could easily take it off on nicer days or to add water to base of palm.
Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com
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Perfect Scott!
Wow has that Mexican Fan Palm ever grown in one summer 😯 😀
Would a plastic garbage can lid fit as the top of that circular enclosure?
Looks like it might.
Nice Sabal too from Steve.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Barb,
I use really thick clear plastic bags I get from work that I cover it with and it's held on by a ratcheting strap that holds it to the cage. That way can take it off easily if we have nice days or want to give them a drink.
Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com
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I get these bags from worked used to cover steel coils dureing winter..they fit a 50K pound coil under em so there pretty big and use those to cover stuff
Both those bags sound like a great idea, good and strong too I bet.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Palm looks great!
Looks like you avoided sawing your arm off too...
reaching in to the center of these and pulling your hand
back can leave you snagged big time,not to mentioned hooked into the skin.
I mentioned it...Bill said one of his grew 34 leaves this year-he is covering it now 😯
The one thing that can get these up north is root damage from cold damp soil.
I use about 6-12" mulch around my Washy at least 8' out.
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pulling your hand
back can leave you snagged big time,not to mentioned hooked into the skin.
I thought the same thing when I saw the photo 😆
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Jim, as a matter of fact I did get hooked good. Had a hell of a time getting my finger pulled off the hook.
There was a member on here that had a good idea that I've done. I buy bags of mulch on sale in the fall and surround the base of the structure with the bags. It helps keep air from getting up into the enclosure and also keeps some ground warmth around the roots. Seemed to work great last year.
Then, in the spring I have all the bags of Cedar chips that I need anyway for my landscaping.
I may have to dig up and move that big Mexican Fan palm though. It will be much harder to build a structure around next fall with the eve of the house in the way.
Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com
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I was bleeding like a stuck pig once I got my finger free. I don't think gloves would have helped much as the thorns are really large and sharp on a palm that size.
Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com
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Hi guy's , i started to protect some palms at my customer. Here's some pictures , the Butia is gorgeous, was tough to tie up the palms together 😉 , but now is ready for the winter...
Will post more pics and videos soon..
I built 2 different mummywrap on my Butia and one of my Trachy, there's some pics too..for now the one with bubble insulation looks better, less sun effect ( that was caused the burn on my Trachy last winter ) 😥 ..
Ben
awesome palms. just watch the heat tape on ground looks like it might be crossing over. I had a issue with one overheating. Fried the palm
Yes, i know. i replaced it after taken this picture. The heat cable for pipe is better the one for roof has that problem. That s fried my Trachy too last winter. Now i used the heat cable EasyHeat for pipe, more better and they have their own thermostat .
Ben
Hey Beny, in pic 4, agree with Hasty (Keith's) comment...glad you fixed that "crossing over itself" thingy.
Fabulous palms, wow.
That Butia is a stunner...love the trunk size and the recurving fronds 😯 😯 😀 😀
I'd like to introduce you to the MOST FABULOUS tape in the world (beats the hell out of Duct tape).
Tuck Tape: the best thing since sliced bread:
Good work Beny!
How many more palms do you have to protect? 😆
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
