Plant a Palm Tree

Palm trees are popular landscaping plants in tropical regions, especially in coastal areas.

They are resistant to storm winds, while offering a tropical ambiance to the landscape they are located in.

Planting one can be a daunting job, so this article may help understand what it takes.

Steps

 * 1)  Select the variety of palm' you want to plant. This may require a little research to determine soil and space requirements, climate tolerance, and cost. Palms vary in size from relatively small Windmill and Sago Palms, to giants like Royal Palms and Queen Palms, that when grown may tower fifty feet in the air. The amount of sunlight palm trees require varies, depending on species, so give this some consideration, also. Consult a list of some common palms used in landscaping, and their sunlight requirements and cold tolerances:
 * 2) * Sago Palms: (cycad) Cold tolerant to 20 degrees F, filtered sunlight to full sun.
 * 3) * Cabbage Palms: Cold tolerant to 12 degrees F, full sun.
 * 4) * Cuban or Florida Royal Palm: Cold tolerant to 22 degrees F, full sun to partial shade.
 * 5) * Queen palm: cold tolerant to 18 degrees F, full sun.
 * 6) * Chinese Windmill Palm: Cold tolerant to 8 degrees F, full sun.
 * 7) * Mexican Fan Palm: Cold hardy to 15 degrees
 * 8) * Pindo palm; cold hardy 10 degrees
 * 9) * Canary Island date Palm 19 degrees
 * 10) * Choose the location the tree will go in. For very large trees, you may have to consider being able to utilize heavy equipment during the process, or expending a good bit of physical effort, so look for an area that is easily accessible.
 * 11) Make sure no underground utilities or hazards exist in the location you choose.  You may want to call your local utility locating service to be sure, if there is any doubt; since hitting an underground water, natural gas, power, or telephone line can cause real problems.
 * 12)  Manuever the tree close to the location you will be planting.  This will make digging the hole the proper size much easier, since you can measure the root ball of your tree and compare that to the hole as you dig. Some palm trees can be buried above their root ball. For example a Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta) can be buried 4 to 5 feet deeper than the original top of the rootball.  This can be advantageous when you are trying to match all trees to a specific height. It would also eliminate the need for bracing.  Some palm trees, however, cannot be buried so please consult with a certified arborist prior to planting.
 * 13)  Overexcavate the hole by about 30%, so the root ball will be in loose soil, not compacted material that will inhibit root growth.  Replace (amend) the soil you refill the overexcavated portion of the hole with washed plaster sand backfill.Peat moss or Compost would most likely retain too much water as most palms like a soil that drains well.
 * 14)  Lift the tree, if possible, or otherwise, remove the root ball cover (usually burlap or plastic) to expose the roots.  Avoid shaking the soil from the roots any more than necessary, since this will allow them to dry and cause the delicate, hairlike feeder roots to die.
 * 15)  Ease the tree into position, making sure the top of the root ball is not below the level of the adjacent ground.  Typically, the top of the tree's root ball should remain 2 or 3 inches above the ground when the hole is backfilled.
 * 16)  Straighten the tree.  Palm trees often have curved trunks, so the plant may not be plumb (vertical) when you finish the project, but try to make sure it is standing in a good position.
 * 17)  Backfill the hole.  Fill the hole with a washed plaster sand backfill watering as you do so to wash the material around the exposed roots, avoiding leaving any air pockets or voids that will allow the roots to dry out. The sand backfill will ensure good drainage plus provide rigidity so you may not have to brace the tree.
 * 18)  Stake the tree to keep it standing.  Palm trees do not have large tap roots that support it, so it must be temporarily braced to keep it standing until its roots become established unless you are using the washed plaster sand backfill. This normally provides enough rigidity to avoid using braces.
 * 19) * Wrap the trunk at least 1/4 up the tree's height with a 16 inch wide piece of burlap to keep the bracing board cleats from chaffing the bark when the tree tries to sway in high winds.
 * 20) * Drive stakes on three sides, equidistant apart around the tree's circumference, and fasten lumber support braces (2X4 treated lumber will work) to blocks of wood secured to the trunk with tie wire, placed over the burlap.
 * 21) Water the tree thoroughly.  You may want to create a small earthen dam around the root ball to keep the water from shedding away from the tree's roots while you water, particularly if the tree is on a hillside or in soil that doesn't absorb water easily.  Mulching the base of the tree will also help to keep the soil moist.  Using about 3 inches of non-compacting mulch is recommended.
 * 22)  Keep the tree watered as necessary until it is established.  The establishment period will depend on the type of tree, its size, and whether it was a container plant or a wrapped root ball specimen.  Generally, the roots should be watered thoroughly, but not flooded.  Watering daily for the first few weeks, weekly for the following few months, then tapering off the watering is a normally suggested schedule.

Tips

 * Power equipment can be a tremendous help with large trees, which may weigh over 1000 pounds.
 * Use a wide nylon or polyester strap to lift the tree if using a machine for this purpose, to avoid damaging the bark of the tree.
 * Some people insert short lengths of 2 inch or larger PVC pipe into the ground around the root ball, with one end sticking up, to facilitate watering into the root zone.
 * Many Home owners do not know that they can grow palm trees in their area.If you are In a zone 6a or warmer (see map Green Section). You can grow a palm tree unprotected. With simple protection you can grow any cold hardy palm tree.

Warnings

 * Use great care not to damage the bark of the tree, since any damage will offer insects an opportunity to attack it.
 * Use great care when digging, especially if using power equipment, since unknown underground utilities may be encountered.
 * Use great care lifting, if done manually, since palm trees have a high center of gravity with their relatively small root balls.
 * Palm trees can be very temperamental. Don't be discouraged if your first attempt fails.
 * Before you plant your palm tree, make sure that you are putting it exactly where you want it, or indeed, be sure that you want a palm tree at all. Once established, palm trees are nearly impossible to get rid of, as even a fragment of the tree's roots will sprout up into a new tree, even when the main body of the tree is removed.

Things You'll Need

 * Material for bracing the tree
 * Digging equipment (either shovels, etc., or power equipment)
 * Soil amending materials such as vermiculite, topsoil mixtures, organic compost, and fertilizers

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Plant a Tree
 * How to Plant an Avocado Tree
 * How to Plant a Bare Root Tree
 * How to Transplant a Young Tree

Sources and Citations

 * http://junglemusic.net/palms/index.htm
 * http://www.treehelp.com/trees/palm/planting-a-palm.asp