PalmsNorth.com

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 4:38 am**

I had bought 3 Mexican Fan palms at local nursery for $18 each this spring. One I planted in the ground next to garage that faces the south. Other two I up potted into slightly larger grow pots and sunk in the ground for the summer and fall months. One of those had grew through the pot into the ground so had to really fight to pull it out. Those two will over winter in green house or garage after I up pot them again. Other palm with pvc frame is a Windmill palm that over wintered there just fine last year, although we did have a really mild winter here in Omaha.

I'm using the tall fence cage method like the guy in Landcaster, PA (saw his videos) and thought it would be the easiest to expand as palm grows taller...but it has to survive this winter first. Has heat tape around the root ball, and C9 Christmas lights attached to the cage. Will add more layers to cage and top of course as weather gets colder.

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:42 am**

Good job scott!

Just one piece of advice: The protection is great, but the roots usually extend further out then the protection you put on. Im sure you dont get reliable snow, so Id suggest a good deep mulch of leaves or something. Even a pile of stones might work, but the plant will be stressed if all of last years top growth survives, and only a small portion of the roots.

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:23 am**

Agreed. Washingtonias hate cold / frozen roots. It will suffer / die if the roots get affected.

Windmill palms are much more tolerant of frozen roots.

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:46 am**

Thanks for the advice. Part of the reason I put pic up. I've been buying bags of Cedar muclch this fall because I use it anyway in the garden, but what my plant was is to simply put the bags over my die back perennial palms I'm doing an experiment with. I think I will do the same with this one as all my leaves are cleaned up for the winter.

We don't get reliable snow here, and only twice last year. At least that Washy is next to concrete foundation and on south side.

Today for example I don't have cover on and it's 27 deg here(over cast) but it's 54 deg inside the cage.

Thanks again for the advice!

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:34 am**

Looks familiar.......

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -10003.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:58 am**

lol, yes it does. I went with wire fencing so I can simply add to it in years to come as palm grows taller. That guy in Lancaster, PA really had the good idea and thankfully the video to show how he does it with his tall palms.

I also didn't want to put the xmas lights all gathered at the bottom because heat tape has built in thermostat and the heat of the xmas lights would prevent it from working...hell, they might anyway if they alone can keep inside of protection warm enough but nice to have the roots protected by the heat tape if we get that cold this winter.

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:37 pm**

looks good guys. Which fence type is cheaper......the steel wire or the wood & wire?

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:51 pm**

I'm not sure since I didn't compare as I needed to use the wire fence to expand UP in height next year. I think I spent $50? for the roll but I have a large Windmill palm to surround yet, but not cold enough for that yet.

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:38 pm**

Posted: **Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:43 pm**

Bags of leaves placed around protection will keep ground warmer around roots.
It's ugly but it works.

Plus if you get a lot of wind, the bags will keep protection from fallling over in a storm.

Good work Scott.

Barb

PalmsNorth.com

My first attempt overwintering a Mexican Fan Palm

My first attempt overwintering a Mexican Fan Palm