New here. Working on Tropical back yard in Middle TN

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 3:47 pm

Haha yeah.

Oh you've seen the sign

By the way, you mentioned earlier on you wanted the neighbors' permission to plant the crape myrtles.
Your computer drawing looked like you were planting them on your neighbors' side of the fence?

Good that you found a nursery nearby, they'll be able to recommend some hardy palms too.
But too bad you're not in Massachusetts...Bill has 8 and 10 foot fabulous palms for sale.
Just a short drive from your place

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:32 pm

That reed fence cover looks nice, although bamboo will last longer.
It should be easy to drive a few hours to the south to buy a huge palm, but a good local nursery can ship one to you for less money than you would spend on gas to drive south.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:36 pm

WOW! that's a lot of work. Good job.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 5:56 pm

lucky1 wrote:
Haha yeah.
Oh you've seen the sign

By the way, you mentioned earlier on you wanted the neighbors' permission to plant the crape myrtles.
Your computer drawing looked like you were planting them on your neighbors' side of the fence?

Good that you found a nursery nearby, they'll be able to recommend some hardy palms too.
But too bad you're not in Massachusetts...Bill has 8 and 10 foot fabulous palms for sale.
Just a short drive from your place

Barb

I decided to plant the crapes on my side because I don't think anything can be planted back there due to a drainage ditch. Thats what that wall is for agaist my fence. The railroad ties will not be quit so high because right now the extras are stacked over there and it looks taller, but they will be removed after the wall concrete is poured.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 4:40 pm

Got a little more work done. Walls are almost formed. Part of the plywood laid down and cleaned up a little. Should be pouring the concrete walls and steps soon.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:32 pm

Wow that's a really nice pool post Brandon. But this is a palm forum. Yeah, most of us enjoy your pictures but this is a hardy palm forum, not a plant my pool forum. Lets see some palms planted not cement blocks.

Sorry to be harsh but this is a palm board?

Bill

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 12:02 am

BILL MA wrote:Wow that's a really nice pool post Brandon. But this is a palm forum. Yeah, most of us enjoy your pictures but this is a hardy palm forum, not a plant my pool forum. Lets see some palms planted not cement blocks.

Sorry to be harsh but this is a palm board?

Bill

Gotta start somewhere. I can't plant the palms before making a place for them

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 5:40 am

Don't worry, I liike the before and after pic. Nothing like seeing how a person got there.

I can now see all the hard work that went in to your garden.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 7:49 am

Now comes the fun part .....pick and plant!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 1:59 pm

Nice job...I get tired just looking at all that work.

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 8:08 pm

lucky1 wrote:Nice job...I get tired just looking at all that work.
Barb

LOL

I'm hoping to get a few palms in after the walls are poured and I have a place to put them. I want to get some experience over wintering with a few before I go too crazy.

Its hard being patient and not buying any palms.

Do you think it will be OK to plant them this time of year?

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 01, 2011 8:11 pm

DesertZone wrote:Don't worry, I liike the before and after pic. Nothing like seeing how a person got there. I can now see all the hard work that went in to your garden.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:02 am

Do you think it will be OK to plant them this time of year?

We've been so interested in the project that I've completely forgotten what palm species you're interested in

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:27 am

lucky1 wrote:
Do you think it will be OK to plant them this time of year?
We've been so interested in the project that I've completely forgotten what palm species you're interested in

Barb

I can't remember for sure, but I think the ones my local nusury has are windmill palms.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:45 am

Good choice, but I say, "go big."
With what you are spending anyways, plan to spend $400 + each on some that will look like palm trees now vs. in a decade.
Just my $0.02 (and your money).

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 8:52 am

TerdalFarm wrote:Good choice, but I say, "go big."
With what you are spending anyways, plan to spend $400 + each on some that will look like palm trees now vs. in a decade.
Just my $0.02 (and your money).

Where can you buy them that size?

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:00 am

You can drive a pick-up truck south for a day to nurseries south of you, but easier by far (and probably cheaper) is to go to a good local nursery and have them order you some. Before my finances fell apart, I was working with an established nursery here in Tulsa that buys tall trunked Trachycarpus in Texas for $300, pays $100 for shipping (in bulk), and then sells them here for $450.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:12 am

Is it OK to plant them this time of year?

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:15 am

There are folks here who know windmill palms WAY better than I do.
IMHO, the warm soil would be appreciated but not the hot air. I think it would work if you watered well for the next 10 weeks.
Perhaps early September would be better? Maybe in time for a Labor Day weekend party?
Trachy experts, feel free to chime in....

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 9:31 am

I think ANY potted palm can be planted virtually any time of year.
Trachies in my area like afternoon shade because the hot dry desert heat/winds can be damaging, and their beautiful fronds shred in the wind.

Having said that, I'm uncertain of your TN conditions, let alone lows in winter.
Wish we had another TN poster...

I've dealt with Plant Delights Nursery in N. Carolina (or was it S.C.?)
Their website might provide some info on Trachies for the southeast.
Owner, Tony Advent, is a wealth of information.
Their catalogue is also on the website.

http://www.plantdelights.com/

Looking forward to seeing what you decide on.

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:35 pm

We poured the concrete today for the all the walls and steps

Should have some pics when the forms come off. It looked like it was going to rain. It was a tough call to make, but I decided to go with it and it turned out good. It poured rain on the concrete truck all the way here, but did nothing, but sprinkle here and then it cleared up right before the truck got here. We had to wheel barrow all of the concrete back from the side of the house.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Jul 06, 2011 3:19 pm

Got palms???

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 3:08 pm

Project's sure moving along.

Wheelbarrow all the concrete?
Wouldn't a concrete pump truck save all that "exercise"?

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:22 pm

lucky1 wrote:Project's sure moving along.

Wheelbarrow all the concrete?
Wouldn't a concrete pump truck save all that "exercise"?

Barb

Yeah lots more fun to wheel barrow it

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:29 pm

I got the forms mostley off now. There still has to be some touch up on the face walls.

Now I have a lot of clean up and get ready to pour the bottom floor.
Next I will be filling in the retaining wall areas. Also the dirt is a little low on the lower floor. So I will need to add more dirt then gravel.
Once I get the dirt filled in the retaining wall part by the patio I will probley go ahead and put a few palms in.

Here are a few updated pics from the front. Still have a little work up hear, but its close to finished.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:33 pm

I went to the nursury today to ask about palms and they had these on clearance. I couldn't pass it up and I went ahead and picked up 3. I will probley go pick up some more next week. I got all three for $57.

hardyjim wrote:Got palms???

Do now!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:12 pm

Holy cow, cheap price for those!
Trachies, right?

Sheesh, we Canadians couldn't get ONE for that price!

Good work!

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:15 pm

lucky1 wrote:Holy cow, cheap price for those!
Trachies, right?

Sheesh, we Canadians couldn't get ONE for that price!

Good work!

Barb

Yep thats what they are. I had to buy them for that price.

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 2:02 am

I paid 200 bucks for this size Trachy

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:56 am

brandonppr wrote:I went to the nursury today to ask about palms and they had these on clearance. I couldn't pass it up and I went ahead and picked up 3. I will probley go pick up some more next week. I got all three for $57.

hardyjim wrote:Got palms???
Do now!

Damn fine score-welcome aboard!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:36 am

Suddenly it's got that tropical look already!
Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:09 pm

Excellent price!
I have also gotten absurdly cheap prices on palms by waiting to buy when no one else was shopping (heck, I got a free plant last week just for dropping by a place where I had bought palms before--one less to water, I'm sure they figured).
Still hoping you arrange for a tall, trunked windmill palm or three to be brought up for you from down south.

--Erik

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 10:53 am

I went back and picked up six more palms

. Now I have a lot of dirt to move to plant them.

I will probley try to get two big ones next year. I will save a place for them.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 1:33 pm

Nice!
Yes, do save room for windmill palms you can sit under in their shade.

I also suggest needle palms for places away from walking/playing paths. They should be completely hardy for you.
And of course dwarf palmettos, if you can find them for sale.
If you don't mind doing more winter protection (i.e., electric heat), a big pindo palm would look spectacular. They grow fast down south (i.e., Florida) so even a big one ought to be affordable.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 1:49 pm

Ditto Erik's suggestions.

Great, Brandon, to take advantage of those good prices and very nice specimens.
Your project is going to look fab-u-lous!

Barb

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:34 pm

TerdalFarm wrote:Nice!
Yes, do save room for windmill palms you can sit under in their shade.
I also suggest needle palms for places away from walking/playing paths. They should be completely hardy for you.
And of course dwarf palmettos, if you can find them for sale.
If you don't mind doing more winter protection (i.e., electric heat), a big pindo palm would look spectacular. They grow fast down south (i.e., Florida) so even a big one ought to be affordable.

What is needed for a pindo palm? what do you mean by electric heat?

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:04 pm

They are beautiful, fast growing and can take temps to the lower teens oF. If I was in TN, I'd wrap the trunk with thermostat controlled pipe heat tape (cheap at every hardware store) and wrap burlap over that. Doesn't look bad. Then, string big Christmas lights denesly on the leaves. That should do for all but the worst dozen or so nights. For those, drape frost cloth over it all. Spray with fabric protector if it will rain before the cold. If not by a fence, use stakes to hold the fabric up under snow. I would also set a bunch of warm water jugs around the base for the worst nights.
You ought to be ables to order big (30 + gallon or box) pindo palms from your local nursery.
One more thing: they LOVE full sun and intense heat, but hate wet roots so plant it where the soil drains very we'll. Your windmills tolerate wet roots but pindos palms don't like that.

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:14 pm

TerdalFarm wrote:They are beautiful, fast growing and can take temps to the lower teens oF. If I was in TN, I'd wrap the trunk with thermostat controlled pipe heat tape (cheap at every hardware store) and wrap burlap over that. Doesn't look bad. Then, string big Christmas lights denesly on the leaves. That should do for all but the worst dozen or so nights. For those, drape frost cloth over it all. Spray with fabric protector if it will rain before the cold. If not by a fence, use stakes to hold the fabric up under snow. I would also set a bunch of warm water jugs around the base for the worst nights.
You ought to be ables to order big (30 + gallon or box) pindo palms from your local nursery.
One more thing: they LOVE full sun and intense heat, but hate wet roots so plant it where the soil drains very we'll. Your windmills tolerate wet roots but pindos palms don't like that.

Thanks for the info

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:22 pm

We can go into more detail as we get into winter protection discussions later in the year. For now, I just want to convince you that a big Butia is doable and surprisingly affordable. I've kept one alive in much colder temps than you will ever get, and they grow so fast with sun and heat. And have to be one of the best looking palms in the world!

brandonppr · Post by **brandonppr** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:35 pm

TerdalFarm wrote:We can go into more detail as we get into winter protection discussions later in the year. For now, I just want to convince you that a big Butia is doable and surprisingly affordable. I've kept one alive in much colder temps than you will ever get, and they grow so fast with sun and heat. And have to be one of the best looking palms in the world!

I do like that palm. This would have to be a purchase for next year. I've got too much left to finish this year and I have spent a lot of money so far this year.

I am going to have to go to another nursery. The one I bought the palms for said they couldn't order anything and what they have is all they offer. I can't see to find much online in a few searches. The ones I am seeing online are tiny and are like $600. I don't mind driving to get something if its not too far away. We usually go to panama city beach each year and I might be able to find something to bring back with me.

PalmsNorth.com

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