Sabal bed at sunrise today

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 7:01 am

This photo shows what I call my "Sabal bed" as it is anchored by the Sabal palmetto W bought me (with my CC) plus two Sabal mexicana. It is south of the gazebo W painted pink and yellow to remind us of the Caribbean. Other plants include Colocasia, Caladiums, peppermint, Canna "Phaison" (=tropicanna), Canna "City of Portland", Hibiscus coccineus and rosa-sinensis, Musa basjoo "thin red line", Ruellia, Cycas revoluta, Ipomoea and Euonymous as ground cover, Campsis trained up a post, a lantana standard, Ilex vomitaria "nana", a Brugmansia, an Alpinia, a Punica (invisible here) plus a Trachy hidden in there for good measure. A barn cat is walking by the edge of the pool. This bed was pretty bare last year so I may have overdone the planting this year. What do you think?

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fm ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/TKczQ ... AG0253.jpg" height="478" width="800" /></a>

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 7:54 am

Oh man do I ever love Sabals... They are really my favourite of the hardy palms! Thanks for the pic.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:08 am

Definitely a favorite palm with such great cold hardiness!

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:20 am

Thanks, guys.
This is my first year to try over-wintering Sabal. I'm anxious as this bed is far from any electric outlets. Plus these palms are bigger than most I am used to overwintering under buckets. Any advice?
W in particular is determined not to lose the big cabbage palm. The Sabal mexicana were cheap (US$15) at an October sale in Dallas late last year, but they grew so well that I don't want to treat them as annuals. They are starting to make the costapalmate leaves I like so much. --Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:43 am

Great bed, Erik! A little "tight" maybe (everything's going to keep maturing), a great and instant tropical feel.

Heck, just lift the gazebo (minus the floor) over above the Sabal(s).

I think a structure like last winter's butia protection is the minimum you'll need.

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 9:48 am

How much effort would you be willing to put into protecting it?

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:12 am

Barb,
thanks. A palm hut that tall won't be easy, but I put the cabbage palm close to the gazebo on purpose so I could use it structurally. Overhead protection is what I cannot figure out as the cabbage palm is so darn tall.
(Did I mention that I was the only one in the Tulsa area to buy one? The rest were trucked down to Dallas....)
W kept saying she would hire an electrician to run 110v AC out there but she lost her job so money has been tight. I could run a long extension cord out to the Sabal, though, and assume I'll have to. I was very happy with plumber's electric heat tape last winter and so figure I'll work that in somehow.
Jim,
can you give suggestions? Like a best plan, a plan B, something like that?
--Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 1:24 pm

Nothing wrong with running extension cord out there.
Sorry about W's job...bummer.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Oct 02, 2010 2:06 pm

Wrap it in Burlap and then plastic when the Arctic cold hits-
if it does.

Okanagan desert-palms · Wed Oct 06, 2010 9:53 pm

Erik they all look great. Next spring we will be taking about how well they did through the winter.I hope I can say the same for my two S. louisiana. I will be setting up some new palm hut protection this Nov so if there is anything from what I do than can help you I`ll post pics.

John