Dug up and repotted the Trachy today!

For cold hardy palm tree enthusiasts.

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lucky1
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Dug up and repotted the Trachy today!

Post by lucky1 »

Despite all your assurances that I could probably build and heat a nice frame to protect my 30 year old Trachy during its first winter outside, sorry, guys, but I chickened out and dug it out today.

It did LOVE being in the ground all summer...still shooting a spear October 24th!

The dig begins!
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Mixed bark mulch with good quality native soil
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A foot down hit rock hard clay :evil:
Notice fleshy and healthy surface roots, all with nice white growing tips.
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Thank goodness for horsepower...people power wasn't doing it :cry:
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Like my photo caption says: I'm no physics major, but this rootball doesn't look like it'll fit the pot!
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Had to remove some soil from roots to fit the pot. Lotsa roots!
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A little high in the pot. Hope watering will settle it in a few inches lower.
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Looks pretty skinny with lower fronds removed. Wrapped a blanket around it...tonight's forecasted winds might dry it out.
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It'll spend winter in the barely-heated building with these others already indoors:
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It feels good to be ready for winter. Almost. :wink:
Barb


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Knnn
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Post by Knnn »

Thanks for the great photo's detailing the procedure 8)

( Your CIDP looks like it is doing good too! )


Steve
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Alchris
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Post by Alchris »

Nice pics. The trachy did pretty good outside this year.

Allen
You don't have to be crazy to grow palms in Alberta..... But it helps
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

Allen and Steve,
The CIDP did appear to spring back nicely from its rough transplant and root loss, despite my not being able to keep roots warm afterwards.

Trachy put out frond after frond in quick succession.
In case we have a really brutal Canadian winter, I can relax knowing it'll be safe indoors. And if winter is mild, I'll put it back outside in its pot in late winter.

I've had enough of digging for a while (groan) :wink:
Barb
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macario
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palms

Post by macario »

Congrats everything looks real healthy
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Barrie

Post by Barrie »

Barb ... you're more adventurous than I am. For me, I plant whats there to stay. Hey, I don't even like this Halloween theme and those damned flying bats!

Cheers, Barrie.
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

Barrie, you're lucky you live in an area where just about everything will grow. I did it for my sanity this winter...maybe it was too late! :lol:

They're not bats...they're fungus gnats :wink:
Barb
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oppalm
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Post by oppalm »

Nice work Barb. I don't blame you for digging it up and bringing it inside. Maybe next year you could get a smaller trachy and work on your overwintering technique, but not with that big one. Hope everything goes well this winter for everyone.
Kent in Kansas
where it's cold in winter (always)
and hot in summer (usually)
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Dean W.
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Post by Dean W. »

Barb,

Nice work, I really like the pictures. The front end loader really helped out, huh.

Dean
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

Thanks Dean, yup I'd be at the chiropractor without that tractor.
Barb
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macario
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now its my turn

Post by macario »

Hello barb now its my turn to bring things in. We are supposed to get our first freeze this week so I decided to start.
I dont look 6ft in this pic. I had to whack leaves for over an hour lol.
<img src="http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/29466 ... 500Q85.jpg" alt="11-6-07">
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

macario, just the other day I was wondering when you'd post digging plants up for winter.
And here you are! Good :D

Holy cow, macario, you're either 4 feet tall or those musa are 12 feet!
A machete would work nicely :lol:
And look at your palms...wow beautiful.

Nice microclimate up against the house and fence.
Did everything grow well for you this year? Did we see summer pics of your palm yard? (*memory*, sorry)

We'll look forward to winterizing pics of your big palms (you know...the ones it takes 3 friends to help lift up in spring). :wink:

oppalm, that's a good idea...maybe I'll try it with my new Trachy Naini Tal, easier to work with and cover at that size.

Barb.
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macario
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A few yard pics

Post by macario »

barb I am 6ft tall. In the pic I was leaning over slightly. The bananas were about 12ft until I whacked the leaves. Ill have more pics soon. One sabal palmettto made it nicely and the other bit the dust.(the ones my friends help me with )
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

Just kidding about the 4 foot height, macario

Sorry that you lost that Sabal Palmetto. :cry:
Was that the palm that was 8 or 9 feet tall, laying down wrapped, in your pics before you and your friends planted it?
Barb
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macario
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Post by macario »

Yes barb it was one of the 2 laying on there side all winter. They were about 10ft each the larger one died. The smaller one is doing GREAT! we will see if it lives through winter number 2.
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

macario, what a shame the larger one died...
glad the other is still around, though.
Will you make any changes to your winter protection?
Barb
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macario
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palms

Post by macario »

I am doing everything the same except the palmetto and my biggest T. wagnerianus that is about 4 1/2 feet tall at the tips of the leaves and about 10 inches of trunk will be getting heat cables in the ground. I removed about 3 inches of dirt around the trunk and put the heat cables down. Then I piled on about 6 inches of mulch around the trunk to bury the cables. Heres a pic of the heat cable in the ground. I will be doing the same to the sabal palmetto on the weekend.

<img src="http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/27223 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="p1051300">
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 »

macario, thanks for the pic. Gorgeous palm. Great technique.
Do you cover the fronds/spear with burlap/plastic? or a temporary roof?
I'm trying to remember where you are (Chicago?)...lots of snow/sleet/hail in winter? or just cold?
Barb
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macario
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palms

Post by macario »

Barb I am just gonna put a small clear plastic cover over the whole palm and the mulch to keep it nice and dry. In recent years the winters have been sunny and dry. If we get any percipitation is in the form of snow. Nothing to bad. Yes your right I am in Chicago.
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Laaz
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Post by Laaz »

Not being negative, but I really doubt the Palmetto will survive like that...
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macario
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Palm

Post by macario »

And if and when it does what do I get ?? :wink:
Lazz I have a butia in the ground 2 years now. I was told it wouldnt live either but its doubled in size every year. I dont think a butia is hardier than a sabal. Last year when I bought the sabals in the middle of winter I left both of the sabal palmettos on there sides on the ground in the cold and its very alive even though everyone told me they couldnt survive temps in the teens for weeks at a time and couldnt survive on its side on the frozen ground for 4 months straight of cold weather. If it lives do I get some type of northern pioneer award or something lol.
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Barrie

Post by Barrie »

macario ... you've gotta photo document and publish your findings with a palm society journal, local chapter or otherwise. I've had half of your success with hardier palms! The palm gardeners in cold climates will eat that article up!

Cheers, Barrie.
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macario
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proof

Post by macario »

Barrie your right. I never thought of doing anything like publishing my progress in a book. I have been having fun just planting the plants that I like and sharing advice and sucess and failier stories with friends on this board and a few others. I will start taking more photos. Today Ill take more pics of my palmetto today while I get ready to cover it up and bury the cables.
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Laaz
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Post by Laaz »

Mike I wish you the best with it. I have seen many here in the northern part of SC fail in much less severe conditions.
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macario
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sorry barb

Post by macario »

I didnt mean to hijack your post. :oops:

Laz I understand you have to see it to believe it. So when you do see it next summer when I have 3 full leaves on my palmetto will you believe it?
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Barrie

Post by Barrie »

macario ... there are a number of journals published by different palm societies around North America. Hardy Palm Internaitional is a quarterly journal produced by the Pacific Northwest Palm and Exotic Plant Society, but there are many others that would be interested in your amazing Sabal survival story. A quick Google search for "palm society" should produce some results.

Cheers, Barrie.
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