Here is how I protected my trachy and I believe a European fan palm. I also did my Musa Basjoo in the same way will post photos of that soon in banana section of PN.
I did this last year but without the insulation, instead I used shrink wrap, the only problem with shrink wrap is it holds moisture in. Both the Basjoo and the fan palm survived last winter no problem. Just bought the windmill this spring. These are pictures of the Fan palm. Also put mulch at base to hold cover in place.
Keith
Great job, Keith.
Good idea to minimize moisture inside.
The burlap and insulation will wick moisture away.
Weird transparent connector for the heat tape.
Have never seen one of those.
Quite the shock yesterday morning with the low temps.
We were at -7.7C (18F), but your place would've been milder than that.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Thanks Barb. Actually did most of that yesterday, but had heat tape going before that. That weird clear heat tape thing is the thermostat and indicator light. I bought them from home depot. Lots of snow this morning but starting to melt away. looks like hopefully rain this week. take care
Keith
I'm a big fan of heat tape, the sort designed to keep pipes from freezing. Not expensive to buy or use, easy. reliable.
NOT sufficient in zone 5, but I'd start there.
Looks good but I would put down at least 5" of mulch around it.
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Thanks guys for the remarks. Last year all I did was put burlap , heat tape, burlap and shrink wrap and both my european palm and Musa Basjoo survived no problem. This year I replaced the shrink wrap with 4 inch pink insulation wrap and waterproof cover. I am thinking this is much better protection.
I also like the 4" pink fiberglass insulation. Works well, doesn't cost much.
Hey just trying to post photos directly to post instead of postimage. this is of the trachy winter cover
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😀 yay it worked
Thanks! Easier for is than clicking.
I put the pipe heating cable right on the plant. The stuff I used never felt hot to the touch so I thought that was safe. Then, I wrapped the burlap (hessian) OVER the heat cable.
However, if you have the pink fiberglass over top of it all, it shouldn't matter.
Good work on posting pics Keith.
I put the pipe heating cable right on the plant. The stuff I used never felt hot to the touch so I thought that was safe. Then, I wrapped the burlap (hessian) OVER the heat cable.
Yes I thought that's what you did Erik, but couldn't find the post.
I bought a 40-foot pipe heating cable ... then forgot to use it inside the protection.
All wrapped up, too late now.
Besides, couldn't figure out how I might use it around 3 yucca rostratas between 2 Washies 😆
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Hello I noticed my trachy leaning lately. So since the temp warmed up decided to check it out. Found out the heat tape wire was fried. Dont know if it was because of the insulation over the heat tape, or faulty heat tape thermostat. Last year I just wrap my plants in heat tape , burlap and shrink wrap and i had no problems. Although this was a different brand of heat tape than i normally use. I looked at the other palm and banana and they look ok. Wrapped it back up with a new heat tape( the other brand ) and just wrapped around trunk. I insulated the fronds ( which look a little worse for wear) . Looks like branches where a little browned from the heat tape shorting out.
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Heat tape probably fried from being wet....the proper technique would be...
burlap,then heat tape,then insulation then a water-proof cover....they still
need to be checked to make sure moisture(condensation)is not building up.
In picture #4 in your first post you have the heat tape over the insulation,
there is no way for the heat to get to the palm this way-if you put it under the insulation
it will hardly ever come on and when it does it won't be for long....
Look at it this way,if you were a palm and your mom put on your coat,would it
be better to wrap you in an electric blanket first and then a coat or the blanket
outside the coat in the wind,rain,cold etc....
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Any guess how long it's been shorted, Keith?
What caused the leaning?
Fingers crossed the palm will make it.
Hasn't been very cold since December.
Let us know what you discover re the heat tape.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
thanks Jim. I applied it exactly how you said. I put burlap, I then wrapped in heat tape, I then wrapped in pink insulation and finally covered with waterproof sack. The only thing I did not check is for condensation. I did not put heat tape over top of insulation. That is green painters tape. Last year on my European fan palm all I did was wrap heat tape then burlap and finally shrink wrap and had no problem.