Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Choosing the type, size and landing site
• Part 2 of 4: Digging a hole and shaping it
• Part 3 of 4: Planting a Palm
• Part 4 of 4: Completing the Disembarkation
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Do you want to organize a piece of paradise in your backyard? Palm trees are the most important feature of tropical landscapes. This tree is resistant to stormy winds, and also creates good shade and shelter, besides, the palm tree does not require specific care from the moment it is planted in the soil. So if you decide to plant a palm tree on your site, check out the details and questions below.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Choosing the type, size and landing site

1. 1 Select the type of palm to plant. Palms range in size from the relatively small fan-shaped (trachycarpus) and sago palms, to giants such as royal palms and arekastrum, which grow up to 15m high. Palm trees require as much sunlight as they can tolerate. It also depends on the species. Check out a list of the palm varieties most commonly used in landscaping and their need for sunlight and cold tolerance:
   • Palm trees for warm weather:
     • Cuban or Florida Royal Palm... Cold resistance up to -5 ° С; from full sun to partial shade.
     • Sago... Cold resistance up to 6 ° С; from full sun to partial shade.
     • Palms from the Canary Islands... Cold resistance up to -7 ° С.
     • Arecastrum... Cold resistance up to 18 ° С -7 ° С; full sun.
   • Palms for cold weather:
     • Mexican fan palm... Cold resistance down to -9 ° C.
     • Cabbage palm... Cold resistance up to 11 ° С; full sun.
     • Pindo... Cold resistance up to -12 ° C.
     • Chinese trachikarpus... Cold resistance up to 13 ° С; full sun.
2. 2 Buy small, medium, or large palm trees depending on budget, aesthetics, and maneuverability. The choice of palm size will mainly depend on only three factors.
   • Budget: Small palms are cheaper and larger palms are more expensive. A small palm tree can cost as little as $ 100, while a large one can cost several thousand.
   • Aesthetics: Do you want to watch your palm grow, or do you want a mature tree to decorate your landscape? Mature trees are much more expensive than young trees.
   • Maneuverability: In addition to being expensive, mature palms are sometimes so large that they have to be transported by truck and installed at the landing site with a crane. If you want to plant palms in areas where there are many large trees, you may have difficulty, in which case it is better to choose smaller palms.
3. 3 Choose a place to plant a palm tree. Since large palms are extremely heavy and require special equipment to plant them, it is advisable to find an area with open access. Planting a palm tree on a plain or low hill in the main courtyard will much easier than a steep slope or backyard. SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Maggie moran

   
   
   Home and garden specialist Maggie Moran is a professional gardener from Pennsylvania.

   Maggie moran
   Home and garden specialist

   Palm trees are good landscape plants as their roots do not grow. Gardener Maggie Moran explains: “The roots of the palm tree are shallow, usually about 90 cm deep. They also grow relatively little, that is, they can potentially be planted near pools and other buildings. However, I would still recommend planting these trees at least 1.8–3 m from the pool. "

4. 4 Do not dig a hole and do not enter an area where there may be hidden underground communications. Look at the cadastral plan. Review the city or town plan and contact local services to inquire about underground utilities if you have any doubts. If you damage underground water lines, gas pipes, oil pipelines, electrical or telephone lines, it can give you unnecessary headaches and create many real problems for which you will be held responsible.

Part 2 of 4: Digging a hole and shaping it

1. 1 Place the tree close to the planting site. This will make it easier to dig a hole of the correct size, since you can measure the root tree ball and compare it to a pit in preparation. Some palms may be buried above the root ball.
   • For example, the Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta) should be buried 1.2 to 1.5 m deep from the top of the root ball. This is a handy trick when trying to align all trees to a specific height. You also do not have to strengthen the roots additionally.
   • Take your time to bury the root crown (top of the root ball) or trunk, regardless of the type of palm tree. If you have any doubts about the depth of disembarkation, consult a certified technician.
2. 2 Dig a hole so that it is at least 15 cm wider than the entire circumference and 15 cm deeper than the root ball of the tree. Then add 15 cm of sand to the bottom of the hole. Measure the width and height of the root ball of the palm with a tape measure, and then dig a hole of the appropriate size.
   • Do a quick drain test if you are digging a hole in poorly drained clay or rocky soil. Dig a hole 40 cm deep in soil with normal moisture, and then fill it with water (too dry, dry or wet / wet soil cannot show the correct test result). If the soil dries out within an hour or two, it has good drainage. If the water goes away in 12 hours, the drainage is moderate. If the water does not drain within 24 hours, it indicates drainage problems, and you should not plant a palm tree in this area without further strengthening the root.
   • Check the pit. It should be deep enough so that the top of the root root is barely covered with soil after planting, but not so deep that the trunk will pick up a lot of moisture and rot. Open roots are good, but filling the protruding root crown with soil is unacceptable. They say that a palm tree with a root protruding on the surface seems to "stand on tiptoe" and is less stable. On the other hand, if you bury a palm tree too deeply, it can start rotting on the trunk. Disease and decay can also cause wood to become unstable.

Part 3 of 4: Planting a Palm

1. 1 Remove the wrapping from the root ball (usually a piece of burlap or plastic). Try not to shake the soil off the roots more than necessary. From this, they can dry out, and thin, hair-like root processes can even die. Also, you should not prune the roots before planting. While you may feel like you are giving the roots a chance to breathe, this process actually traumatizes the root system more than does it good.
2. 2 Position the tree so that the top of the root ball is slightly below ground level. As a rule, when planting a tree and filling the hole (falling asleep), the top of its root ball should sink 2.5-5 cm underground.
3. 3 Line up the tree. Palm trees often have curved trunks, so the plant can be tilted after planting.
   • Find the front of the palm tree, for example, the area that receives the most sunlight. Depending on your preference, you will most likely want the sunny side of the palm to be facing you so you can admire the tree. If the palm tree will grow in the main yard, it should face the street. If the tree will grow in your backyard, it should face the house.
4. 4 Fill in the landing pit by lightly covering the crown. Fill the hole with sand-based gypsum plaster while watering the tree. The sandy fill will provide good drainage and stability so you don't have to build tree supports.
5. 5 Create an earth barrier. Create a soil barrier - something like a ledge or dam around the entire pit. This will help the newly planted tree retain moisture. When the barrier is ready, you can water. This measure ensures that the roots of the palm tree are sufficiently hydrated and do not dry out.

Part 4 of 4: Completing the Disembarkation

1. 1 Support the tree to keep it level, if necessary. The palm tree has a small root system.Therefore, it must be temporarily maintained until the roots get stronger. An exception is if you are using sand-based gypsum plaster for reinforcement. This material usually provides good stability and you will not need props.
   • Wrap a 40cm wide burlap trunk at least 1/4 of its height to prevent the holding boards from damaging the bark if the tree starts to sway in strong winds.
   • Drive in stakes on three sides at an equal distance from the tree and secure the boards with fixing brackets (2x4 boards will do), then tie the supports to the trunk with wire wrapped around the burlap.
2. 2 Water the tree thoroughly. You can make a small mound of earth around the root ball to keep water in the root area while watering, especially if the tree is on a hillside or in soil that does not absorb water well. Mulching the base of the tree will also help keep the soil moist. Apply a layer of about 7.6 cm of loose mulch.
3. 3 Refrain from fertilizing the palm for another six to eight weeks after planting. Remember that replanting a palm tree is already a lot of stress for the plant. Unfortunately, fertilization becomes another challenge for him. To minimize possible stress on the tree and increase its chances of growth, do not fertilize the palm for six to eight weeks after planting.
   • If you do decide to feed the tree, use a slow-acting fertilizer and place it right next to the trunk. Place fertilizer at a distance of 30-50 cm from the tree trunk so as not to overdo it.
4. 4 Continue watering the tree as needed until it takes root. Gravel and sand soils will require more watering. The time it takes for a palm to take root depends on the type of tree, its size, and whether it was a seedling from a pot or with a wrapped root ball. In general, the roots should be well watered, but not flooded. Water daily for the first few weeks, then weekly for the next few months, and gradually reduce the frequency. This is a normal watering schedule.

Tips

• Power tools are a great help when working with large trees that can weigh over 450 kg.
• Use a wide nylon or polyester strap to lift the tree with the machine to avoid damaging the tree bark.
• Some people prefer to insert short (5 cm) or long PVC pipes into the soil around the root tuber, leaving one end sticking out of the ground. It helps to direct watering to the root zone.
• Many homeowners are unaware that they can grow palm trees in their area. If the minimum temperature in your area does not fall below -20 ° C, you can grow a palm tree in the fresh air. Using simple protection, any type of palm tree can be grown for cold climates

Warnings

• Work with extreme care to avoid damaging the tree bark, as any damage will be vulnerable to insect attacks.
• Dig with extreme caution, especially if you choose to use power tools, as you risk damaging underground communications.
• Use extreme caution when lifting the tree if you do it by hand. Palms have a high center of gravity and a relatively small root system.
• Palm trees can be very moody. Don't be discouraged if your first try doesn't succeed.
• Before planting a palm tree, ask yourself again if you want it to grow in this particular place or if you want to see it at all. After planting, it will be almost impossible to get rid of the palm tree, as the branches of the roots of the tree will begin to grow into a new tree, even if the main tree is cut down.

What do you need

• Wood fixing materials
• Tillage tools (shovels and other hand tools or energy equipment)
• Soil modification materials such as vermiculite, topsoil mixes, organic compost and fertilizers.