Moving Palm Trees

[pete_r]

There are a few palm trees in my garden, that start to take a bit too much space for my liking.

Having seen rather big trees traveling in the back of pickups, I'm thinking of digging them up and move them somewhere else, but have no clue on how to do it and the difficulty of the operation - not only digging and moving, but also making sure they stay alive after replanting.

The trees are between 2.5 and 5-6 meters tall.

Anyone with some experience to share?

[LaoPo]

Palm trees are easy to transplant but you need to take good care before you do.

I just googled because the experts know and explain better than I ever could:

http://www.google.nl/search?num=12&hl=...amp;btnG=Search

LaoPo

[meandwi]

It depends on the variety, size, and location to new location of the palms. The picture you provided is a Macarthur palm "Ptychosperma macarthuri". Yours, is one palm with four heads. It is recommended that you "root prune" this variety for 12 weeks prior to moving, and move with a tractor. But it is possible to move by hand. Dig as large of rootball as possible, lay down, then fold up the palms fronds and tie together. Each head individually. Gently roll out of hole and into it's new location. Make sure you dont plant it too deep! In fact, plant it a little higher than existing soil elevation. Fill hole with compost soil (not existing soil) making sure to remove all air pockets by soaking with water. Brace/ stake the palm to make sure it doesnt move. Use existing soil to make a tree well (Dam) to hold water. Fill every other day. After 2 weeks untie the heads and allow the damaged fronds to fall naturally.

Good luck.

meandwi

[poppysdad]

A few weeks ago we had a new large tree delivered and its home was where a well established Bamboo Palm was planted, it had 8 thick trunks the tallest being around 10 feet high. We asked the gardeners to dig it out, chop it in two halves of 4 trunks and replant in other parts of the garden. They did much as Meandwi has stated and the two halves seem to be thriving in their new situations with just a little browning on some of the leaf edges, but are also now putting up new branches which seem healthy.

[pete_r]

Thanks for the encouraging replies. I may give it a go one of these weekends.

On the other hand... I'm also happy to give them for free if someone wants to come and dig them up.

We're located in Minburi area (North-East Bangkok).