Easier to transplant?

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 4:03 am

I wasn't thinking ahead very well and planted in the ground with heat tape two palms that now as they have grown some, will be too close together I think.

On the left is a Windmill palm planted with one full year of growth and this will be it's 2nd winter in the ground. On the right is a Mexican fan palm, just planted summer of last year, and has grown quite a bit in height. I'm thinking I need to get some distance between the two, and was wondering which of them can handle a transplant easier than the other. It's not like either cost very much ($25 & $18 respectively) but, you know the emotional attachment of loosing one.

This is the South side of my garage so will keep them both there, and I have plenty of space.

Has anyone had to dig up palms like these and move them? what kind of success did you have??

Thanks in advance...

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:01 am

will be too close together

Thought that when you planted them, Scott.

Do you recall which had the healthiest looking rootball at planting i.e. no broken roots/soil breaking off, exposing roots?

Whichever one you choose to move, I'd recommend taking twice the amount of soil (width and depth) than the pot it came in.
Both fan palms will have put out adventitious roots even though one was planted a year later.

http://www.ehow.com/info_10028007_root- ... palms.html

Barb

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:14 am

No, Barb I didn't notice about the root ball. The Mexican Fan was pretty small when I took it out of the pot, and even with the hot dry summer we had here and me having to hand water it, it still grew like crazy. It was then I realized how busy and full it was going to get.

Good idea though to take a larger than normal amount of dirt with it.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:13 am

larger than normal amount of dirt with it.

Reminder: don't plant it deeper than it was.

Maybe somebody else will chime in here about which is easier to move...Trachy or Washy.

andym · Post by **andym** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:24 pm

I dug up a Trachycarpus Wagnerianus and replanted it in the same spot but in another two feet of soil .Didn't hurt except new leaves formed on very short petioles. Once settled in after a year it produced normal petioles and leaves.
Sorry no experience with moving Washies. My guess is it would not be too happy compared to Trachies. I don't grow Washies outside in my area but there are people who do so in the UK successfully in particular Dave Brown who runs the UK's Hardy Tropical forum.

InsanePalmNinja · Post by **InsanePalmNinja** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:37 pm

Just be aware of you will have to repot every 6 months. I found out the hard way.

InsanePalmNinja · Post by **InsanePalmNinja** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:37 pm

Just be aware of you will have to repot every 6 months. I found out the hard way.

sashaeffer · Post by **sashaeffer** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 5:28 am

Ninja...they aren't in pots, they are direct planted into the ground.