Okanagan desert-palms: Saving a big palm from the chainsaw

[Islander]

This palm is threatened by the chainsaw and I will attempt to move it into my garden. I'd pay more than 2K for a Trachy of that size in Victoria or the best cheapest place in Vancouver. Buddy wants it gone ASAP. It's too big and into wires. It's a shame when people in Victoria cut down mature Cordylines or palms. So this one is worth the rescue. The move should happen this week. The current weather is cool & rain is expected but that's good weather for a Trachy move. Let it rain before it gets dry. Cheers

[lucky1]

That's a beaut...good for you for taking on this massive job.
Please take pics of the move.
Barb

[Dean W.]

Good luck moving it. It's pretty close to the foundation.

Dean

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Islander that palm deserves to be saved. If I were closer to Victoria I would certainly be there with shovel in hand. Keep us posted as to what happens to it. Looks like it has a fair number of seedlings around it`s base.

John

[Islander]

Barb, the palm was a foot tall 25 years ago so it's been at that location for a while. The location has sheltered it from strong winds . The new location will test its fronds as it can only be planted in my front garden which gets strong gusts. I'll bring my camera.

Dean, it was far enough to dig around it. I was hoping to dig on two sides but that would make for too much root ball weight. I helped move a palm that was even closer to a home but it was shorter and the root system was small for a 10 footer (trunk). It was easy to pivot the tree once it lay on the ground.

John, we needed to rent a truck for the job. We'll drop the palm using a tow line. And then it will be dragged out of the property as no vehicle can get close to the tree. The root ball will be tied up in burlap. I intend to leave it on the root ball. A hydraulic lift behind the truck will lift the root ball. We will slide the tree by hand. We have a two ton cable puller. The tree weighs more than 1000 lbs (our guess). It is a bold attempt at this size with no crane. I'll find out if our crazy plan will work tomorrow. The truck has an 18 foot long box so the crown will hang from the back.

“May fate favor the foolish.” --Admiral Kirk

Cheers

[Arctic Palm]

well, if you want my opinion on the palm, I think you should sell it to someone who lives in Ontario and cant get a large trachy anyhwere...someone who would take care of it, someone who would love it!
Yup, just imagine, your big trachy would be the ONLY one in the eastern half of canada...thats a great idea!!!!!

Now only if you could find someone in ontario like that...hmmmmmm.

[ChattanoogaChris]

how did the move go? did you trim the top before the move? how large was the root system?

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Welcome ChattanoogaChris the move went well. The pictures were posted by Islander shortly after the move. Perhaps Islander can repost the pics? I would like to see how well it`s doing now.

John