Planting Windmill Palm

For cold hardy palm tree enthusiasts.

Moderators: lucky1, Alchris, Kansas, Wes North Van, Laaz

Post Reply
User avatar
Syano10
Sprout
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:46 am
Location: Wethersfield CT

Planting Windmill Palm

Post by Syano10 » Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:43 am

Hello all I am new to the forum. I have puchased a good size 30 gallon windmill palm and am ready to put it in the ground.

I am in CT zone 6 and have clay soil.

I would like to plant in a mounded bed and would like to know what most people use for soil?

Is regular top soil, peat moss, adding in bark chips etc a good thing.

I also have some crushed gravel i could add. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

Steve



sashaeffer
Large Palm
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:09 am
Location: Omaha, NE

Post by sashaeffer » Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:18 am

Wow, a 30? gallon for your first one? You just have to post some pics. I'm somewhat of a newbie myself and where I live we have Loess soil so it's naturally loose and has good drainage. The bark (small) ships is a good idea, but there are a lot of material that you can use to keep soil "loose" around the root ball.

One thing I did is buy heat tape for pipes and wrapped the root ball of my Windmill Palm with it. It has a built in thermostat to keep root ball from freezing in cold Nebraska winters and along with my above the ground protection.
Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fin ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... edState=NE" alt="Click for Omaha, Nebraska Forecast" height="90" width="160" /></a

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:52 am

Hi Steve, glad to have you aboard.

As a general rule, palms need well draining soil.
Clay is not good, so a mounded bed is a good idea.
I wouldn't ever add peat moss to clay, as peat moss holds water like a sponge.

I'd ensure that the land slopes away from all sides of the mounded bed so you don't ever get puddling.
Gravel in the subsoil works as long as it leads water away downhill, not just gravel under the palm.

You'll probably want to place the Trachy somewhere near the house, considering you'll want to protect it in winter.
Electrical nearby saves 100 foot long extension cords.

Look forward to seeing it.

Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

User avatar
Syano10
Sprout
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:46 am
Location: Wethersfield CT

Post by Syano10 » Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:56 am

thanks for the quick reply.

I am a little impatient so i went with the 30 gallon.

I have heard differing opinions on peat moss can any one help.

i was thinking of mixing my natural clay soil with some peat moss, top soil (Bags from big box store) with a top dressing of manure (Bag from box store) and perlite or the loose crushed gravel. Does anyone have any thoughts on this mixture? Ratios?

Thanks Ill post pics once its in ground. Finally we are warming up in CT

sashaeffer
Large Palm
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:09 am
Location: Omaha, NE

Post by sashaeffer » Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:02 am

No peat moss.
Have read that (steer) manure isn't good for palms(jungle music site)

Look into crushed pebble size lava rock. It's light, cheap and easy to work with.

Steve, where ya from? edit your bio.
Scott/Omaha
sashaeffer@hotmail.com

<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fin ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... edState=NE" alt="Click for Omaha, Nebraska Forecast" height="90" width="160" /></a

User avatar
Syano10
Sprout
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:46 am
Location: Wethersfield CT

Post by Syano10 » Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:08 am

thanks Barb

I have left over gravel from a stone patio. was thinking of mixing it in. with top soil and my clay for the entire mound. It has a slight slope back wards where water can run so that the palm will not sit in the water.

I have electrical out by my pool which is where it will be. also pretty protected from winds by arborvitae.

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Wed Apr 24, 2013 11:19 am

What's the old saying? Dig a $50 dollar hole for a $10 plant? something like that.

I personally hate box store bagged soil, the cheaper stuff is just lime-rotted sawdust.
And never buy bagged soil for palms that has fertilizer in it.
gravel from a stone patio. was thinking of mixing it in. with top soil and my clay for the entire mound.
Pea sized gravel would work well.
Like a chain with a weak link, your problem part will be beneath your palm's amended bed, where it's just unamended native clay.
That's where a sloping drain should cut through the native clay and take water away.

Let's see if others chirp in here....maybe take a photo of it and the area it's going?

Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

User avatar
Syano10
Sprout
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:46 am
Location: Wethersfield CT

Post by Syano10 » Thu Apr 25, 2013 7:10 pm

The gravel is grey and not round but sharp. Would this work? How about perlite??
Thanks

chadec
Small Palm
Posts: 547
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:28 pm
Location: king, N.C.

Post by chadec » Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:55 am

The gravel should be smaller than a dime. I dont think the shape is too important. I always mix it 1/3 with premium soil like scotts( which has small bark in it) and whatever soil is in your yard. If you dont mix your clay into the amended soil the roots will not acclimate to it. Then when they out grow the hole it may take longer for root development.

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Fri Apr 26, 2013 2:02 pm

I'd pass on the perlite if you're using gravel.

Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

User avatar
Syano10
Sprout
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:46 am
Location: Wethersfield CT

Post by Syano10 » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:07 pm

So I planted this beautiful palm in a raised bed with top soil, my soil and the gravel I had on hand. It seemed pretty loose and looked like the drainage would be great. Beneath the bed I angled the soil toward the French drain around our in ground pool.

All in all I believe it will be a great addition ( funny I misspelled addition and my autocorrect when to addiction)
To the backyard.

Thanks for the help! I will post as soon as I get the pics uploaded

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:01 pm

Syano, sounds good.

And auto correct was right...it IS an addiction.
Look forward to the photos.

Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

User avatar
Syano10
Sprout
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:46 am
Location: Wethersfield CT

Post by Syano10 » Sat Apr 27, 2013 5:28 pm

Image
Here is one view
Image
Different angle

Once again thanks for the help

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Sat Apr 27, 2013 5:36 pm

That is one great looking Trachy!
Great spot for it, sure looks tropical.

Your hard work will pay off in the Trachy settling in nicely.

Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Mario509
Sprout
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2012 2:56 pm
Location: Kennewick,WA

Post by Mario509 » Sat Apr 27, 2013 10:51 pm

Wow that seems really small for a 30 gallon. I was expecting to see anout 5 feet of trunk. That looks the same size as my 15 gallon
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/fin ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... edState=WA" alt="Click for Kennewick, Washington Forecast" height="90" width="160" /></a>

User avatar
CTPalm
Seedling
Posts: 161
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:01 am
Location: Windsor Locks, CT - 6A

Post by CTPalm » Mon Apr 29, 2013 2:44 pm

Welcome Neighbor - I have 4 trachies about the size of yours but I have been wheeling them in the garage for the winter. I gave my dad a small trachy and he planted it and covered with only burlap (no heat) on the north side of his house in Manchester CT and it lived! I have a similar sized Waggie that I brought in the house this winter and when I brought it out I burned nearly all the fronds.
Maybe I should just plant them.
Paul
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/CT/Winds ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ty=Windsor Locks&ForcedState=CT" alt="Click for Windsor Locks, Connecticut Forecast" height="90" width="160" />

User avatar
Syano10
Sprout
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:46 am
Location: Wethersfield CT

Post by Syano10 » Mon Apr 29, 2013 5:33 pm

Thanks for the welcome. And try at least one in the ground!
Are you on bananas.org as well?? Thought I saw you over there as well.
We will see how this goes but I think it'll be a great addition to the back yard.

User avatar
CTPalm
Seedling
Posts: 161
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:01 am
Location: Windsor Locks, CT - 6A

Post by CTPalm » Wed May 01, 2013 12:28 pm

Syano10 wrote:Thanks for the welcome. And try at least one in the ground!
Are you on bananas.org as well?? Thought I saw you over there as well.
We will see how this goes but I think it'll be a great addition to the back yard.
Yes I am also on bananas.org - You are right, I do have to experiment with one.

Yours looks great planted there!

Paul
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/CT/Winds ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ty=Windsor Locks&ForcedState=CT" alt="Click for Windsor Locks, Connecticut Forecast" height="90" width="160" />

User avatar
Syano10
Sprout
Posts: 43
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:46 am
Location: Wethersfield CT

Post by Syano10 » Wed May 01, 2013 12:35 pm

Where have you gotten the palms from?? I know you were wondering about musa basjoo. I got mine in newington at stonehedge gardens. Bill Ma do you sell windmills??

User avatar
CTPalm
Seedling
Posts: 161
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:01 am
Location: Windsor Locks, CT - 6A

Post by CTPalm » Thu May 02, 2013 1:47 pm

Syano10 wrote:Where have you gotten the palms from?? I know you were wondering about musa basjoo. I got mine in newington at stonehedge gardens. Bill Ma do you sell windmills??
I got them from here http://palmtreesalesonline.com

it was in there package deal area - 6 - 2-3 year old palms for $149 - they let me substitute. I got all Windmills (I got 8 back then for that price) I grew mine in pots for the past few years to get them up to size.

I gave 4 away - 3 people killed them - except my dad's in Manchester.

Bill in MA used to sell really big windmills, haven't seen any posts on here from him in a while - his neighbors were causing problems for his cool little business.

I'll check out stonehedge gardens for the basjoo if I don't find one.

Paul
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/CT/Winds ... ipes"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... ty=Windsor Locks&ForcedState=CT" alt="Click for Windsor Locks, Connecticut Forecast" height="90" width="160" />

User avatar
hardyjim
Palm Grove
Posts: 4703
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:00 pm
Location: Fairfield Iowa 5b

Post by hardyjim » Fri May 03, 2013 8:42 am

Bill still has palms for sale...
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />

lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
Posts: 11325
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)

Post by lucky1 » Fri May 03, 2013 11:09 am

Jim, maybe post a link to Bill's sale page?

Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />


If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot] and 8 guests