Preparation tips needed for plating palm in ground.

[BrugsBunny]

Hello all

I have two palms arriving on wednesday, Trachycarpus fortune and a Sylvester palm. I am looking for hole preparation tips. I am planning on digging wide and deep and backfilling with quality soil.

But what is the best soil to choose?
During winter is nessisary to have heating tape under the ground for the root ball?
Or
Will it be ok to just protect it externally and provide it with a small heat source?

Thanks in advance

Cheers

[wheelman1976]

Can't tell you about soil type but I have three 7 footers coming to me this week and I plan on burying them with half the ball above the ground and pile soil to even it out. Reason being is to allow the tree some room to sink as it gets established.

As for protection, I have no heat tape (I'm in Michigan) and I simply build a box over top with 3/4 inch plywood and christmas tree lights hanging inside around the crown and on the ground. For the record I have two 4.5 foot tracys that have gone through two winters with no issues at all with the above method.

[BrugsBunny]

I will keep that in mind. Never thought of raising the root ball up a bit.

Thanks.