I got my shelter for my inground and potted palms almost complete. Unfortunately a few things went wrong as I got ready to build the two shelters and a shed. As a result I was a day late starting and had my grandchildren visit with only 6 hours notice( my daughter phoned and said that she was coming for the weekend just before she left her house).
I love my grandsons but they always help me. Visualize the 3 of us assembling a stick built prefab wall. I start the screws for assembling the 2 x 4 frame, then hold the pieces together while the 8 year old uses the drill to sink the first screw. Then the 2 year old sinks the second screw. Everybody gets a turn, except grandpa. My wife and daughter are in the house chatting leaving me to supervise the boys. The 8 year old knows that sometimes you just wait to help. Not the 2 year old. He brings me boards and chewed up screws that I have discarded as well as tools that I don't need yet. It was very nice having them here but I was almost half a day behind schedule by noon on Saturday.
So the shed still needs a roof and doors while the 2 palm shelters need permanent roofs and one needs a window.
No pics yet. I will take some when the rest of the pieces are assembled.
Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
Good luck!! Hope to see your finished product soon. I just started pull out my shelter also and my kids are shaking there heads saying there not helping me this year. Thats what they think lol.
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Allen...I'm looking forward to your palmhouse pics...
I built a few semi glass/plastic 5X5's for our windmill palms..They'll go on once the temps dip below -5 or so..
Macario..post your palmhouse pics when its up please!!
Palmettoman Z6-Ajax, On
Everything is fixed and I have pics. The wind that affected the lower mainland ripped off the front half of the large palm shelter's roof and knocked out the window. The winds were only gusting to 80-90kph but for some reason we got one blast from the east that knocked down 8 feet of my neighbors fence as well.
The front shelter from the street. This one is 4' high 10' wide and 6' deep. The window is made from double paned diffused acrylic and is 2' x 2'. The styrofoam is 3" thick 2' x 8' sheets.
Removing the roof by unfastening the bungee cords and unscrewing the corner supports, next pic, will allow this to be disassembled into 5 pieces in a couple of hours.
The top is hinged to allow me to open the top to give extra cool or warm air. I used 2 pairs of standard 3" hinges.
I have the Chamerops and Butia in the ground as well as the potted palms and cycads inside. Heating is provided by a 30' heat cable taped to copper pipe. I also have a remote temperature sender.
As you can see, some of the palms did not take to the widely swinging temps and the one Y. elephantipes that got sunburned in June didn't put out any new leaves since that time.
The rear palm shelter is 4' high 8' wide and 3' deep. It has no window and is not heated. I am trying to over winter 2 chinese fan palms as well as a zone 7 evergreen rhododendron.
I still need to deal with some of the spaces between the insulation and will do something temperary until permanent fixes can be done in the spring.
Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
RIGHT ON ALLEN!!!!!!
Nice work!
Your hired for next year.
Allen,
You've done a lot of work, nicely constructed.
Re gaps in insulation, how about a can of spray foam? Cheap, quick, easy.
I keep a can in my back pocket 😆 😆 trying to find where mice are coming in 👿
Good idea about the copper pipe and heat tape...would there be a benefit placing it nearer the soil level?
And are you packing any leaves or loose insulation between pots?
Thank goodness that storm didn't do more damage than it did.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
nice shots allen!
good luck with your overwintering method..
PalmettomanZ6-Ajax, On
Thanks for the suggestions Barb.
It is too cold for spray foam as it will not set up below about 7 C. Uncured foam was part of the reason that the window blew out.
The heat cable would probably benefit from being closer to the ground. I put the pipe in after the shelter was half built and didn't want to damage the fronds by trying to get it lower. I'll try it lower next year. The pipe is pushed 18' into the ground to help heat the soil.
I hadn't thought about insulating around the pots. The heating cable should keep the ground and air above 2 C for the winter. Insulating 2' into the ground should make insulating around the pots unnecessary.
Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
Damn thats great you went all out!!
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The heated shelter will get it's first test tonight as the temperature is supposed to get down to -16* C/1* F and stay below -6* C/22* F for 2 days.
Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
Nice work with the enclosures 8)
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Didn't realize your copper pipe went into the ground, too.
You've put a lot of thought into it...very well conceived.
With a temp of 2C your plants will shrug off an Edmonton winter.
Barb
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If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
Allen,
Nice job! Where did you get all that styrofoam? I like the Flamigo effect. 😆
Dean
Dean
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The styrofoam is an instock item at the Home Depot. It is used as an exterior insulation on concrete basements in our area. It is also treated to resist bacteria etc. that is in the soil. It is not fire retardent and is not as effective an insulator as the styrofoam sheets that are used inside walls or under siding. I drew a few stares as I loaded 19 sheets into my trailer.
I don't know if it is available in warmer climates.
The flamingo helps offset the boxy ugliness.
😛
Maybe I should paint scenery on it for next winter. 🙂 OR sell advertising on it. 😉
Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
After 30 hours of below freezing temperatures, including a fully overcast day, the heating system is inadequate for my needs.
It did maintain a 11* C/19* F increase in temperature . Adding a second 30' 210 watt heating cable should keep the contents at -7* C/20* F or warmer when temperatures reach -30* C/-20* F.
I am off to Canadian Tire and Home Depot.
Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
