How to protect a palm tree for freezing cold winter

[@brandonpoythress9052]

You do a good job helping those with harsh winter's, enjoy palm's. Good work and effort.

[@TheJames2929]

Thanks a lot for your nice, comments that means a lot I’m glad you enjoy the videos

[@wannabetropics1913]

Great informative video James. Don’t apologize for a lengthy video it was perfect!

[@TheJames2929]

Wanna Be Tropics thanks so much brother

[@palmtreedude]

@@TheJames2929 I love lengthy palm related videos, most of them out there seem too short! Great video that's very informative, keep us updated!

[@TheJames2929]

PalmTreeDude thanks man I will

[@BananaJSSI]

Looks great! Nice thick crown. They grow fast and it will be no time flat before it is a monster. I keep our's in big planters outdoors in a dry Tiki hut and they do very well for winter and we have one in the ground which may be a filibusta. So far so good

[@TheJames2929]

BananaJSSI yeah thanks JOE for commenting that’s awesome man glad you checked out my video. You should do another update on your one in the ground. They are my favorite palm tree I have hundreds of them I absolutely love the fast growth rate and the beautiful leaves ❤️🌴

[@InstituteQarsherskiy]

Good content. I send love from Bahariterra

[@JT-ok6re]

We got our first cold morning November 1. It was 39F after a high of 77F on Halloween. BTW your grass look amazing.

[@TheJames2929]

Tim Johnson thanks bro

[@Pavel-q1r8s]

Hi James, What about watering? In my zone my palms can be boxed for up to 5 months... Some water will get to the roots from the sides after rain, but is that enough?

[@TheJames2929]

Yes that is is enough. I am the same as you and I have never once watered them

[@Pavel-q1r8s]

@@TheJames2929 Thank you so much for taking time to answer all my questions (this is my 3rd comment/question). And thank you for this video. I just finished my first 4 boxes (never done them), yoohooo!!!! very, very similar to yours, took all ideas from your video :) The boxes turned out very well, with no holes/gaps at all, even small ones, so to be honest, I'm still a little worried whether I should provide some ventilation, like a small hole maybe...

[@vistaprime]

where do you store these boxes in the spring and summer. We're trying to avoid clutter in the garage and tool shed? do you take it apart?

[@MrMoneyMan-zv8uk]

thank you so much, this is going to help me out on my windmill palms.

[@Batman111-q3r]

And would you recommend putting loft insulation around bottom of trunk

[@fallingrocks2276]

Hey US zone 6a here, I was wondering if species of washingtonia and trachycarpus will need extra protection when they are smaller 3 gallon size, will they need more winter protection until they grow more fronds or a thicker and tall trunk it gets down to -10° C frequently and occasionally -5 here at night

[@femaleweeb8655]

I’m in zone 3b Canada, I have 3 of this palm. One day I will try to grow them outside

[@TheJames2929]

female weeb awesome if you need any help please let me know

[@PashkaTLT]

James, what will you do when the tree becomes too tall for you to make a box?

[@Pavel-q1r8s]

I'm sorry if I missed this.. Do you leave some hole for air exchange. Although I guess it will reduce the warmth inside drastically?

[@TheJames2929]

Nope no ventilation at all

[@RFCDAY]

Can you leave them in the boxs for 12 weeks straight?

[@TheJames2929]

I can do 20 weeks easily

[@PashkaTLT]

You close the 4th side with insulation right? And if yes, how is the tree doing without enough light inside?

[@Pavel-q1r8s]

Hello, James. I plan to use heating cables only (no Christmas lights, as I found an amazing deal for heating cables). I was concerned, that Christmas Lights may give some light and without Christmas Lights, will my palms be ok if boxed for ~5 months (worst case scenario in my zone)?

[@TheJames2929]

They will be fine with having no light however, those heat cables produce heat differently than the Christmas lights. I would not recommend using them. The Christmas lights are perfect. They put off lots of heat without too much. They are cool to the touch but they produce lots of nice warmth.

[@1994CPK]

Thanks for the info, I live in Reno, Nevada. Hopefully my backyard will look like yours one day.

[@TheJames2929]

Thanks man for sure. make it happen. start planning the palm trees 🌴

[@brianperez3514]

1994CPK I live in Reno too and you should make videos about it I’m thinking on growing some palms too

[@Batman111-q3r]

James what happened s when it get to tall to put a box around it

[@brennencanfield4856]

Are you able to just add lights and wrap burlap directly over it a few times?

[@callmeishmaelk767]

How old are the windmill palms?

[@dnsguru]

That's overkill. I wrap my palms in a layer of burlap then lights then a tarp and they overwinter well. Last winter my heat source died and I lost the fronds but the tree survived at least -20 with no heat. Lots of new growth this year. Kingston, ON.

[@brennencanfield4856]

So you put the lights iver the burlap? Also what kind of palm do you have?

[@johnretro82]

Hi James great videos! I have a 10ft windmill in a large planting pot on my deck. I was going to build an enclosure around it with 6 mil plastic sheathing and small shed roof to keep the snow and rain out of the crown. Would you recommend pipe heat tape or Christmas lights being that it is not planted in the ground and should the heat tape or lights wrap around the pot itself to keep the roots and planter warm? The enclosure I was going to run all the way down to the deck to protect the pot itself. Thanks for your time in advance!

[@TheJames2929]

What zone do you live in?

[@johnretro82]

@@TheJames2929 I live in eastern long Island NY.

[@johnretro82]

7a... Just looked it up.

[@TheJames2929]

@@johnretro82 OK well that might be OK I would usually recommend bringing it indoors or into your garage perhaps somewhere where it is cool and dark it will not need much water or sunlight or anything if you bring it indoors however it will need a little bit of extra light and water. Those of the only ways I usually do it being outside I would highly recommend it in the ground that sounds like it could be a little troublesome but if you think you’re going to watch it closely it might be find for you

[@johnretro82]

@@TheJames2929 gotcha - unfortunately I can't fit it in my house. What are your thoughts on heat tape right against the hairy trunk? With burlap over it?

[@duckkillerclydeclyde]

great info

[@TheJames2929]

duckkillerclyde thanks bro

[@mathieucorriveau8823]

I have a Trachycarpus fortunei at home but I don't know anything about palm trees. I tried to protect it for the cold Québec winter but what I did was far from perfect. I wish I saw your video first. Now i wonder how I can tell if it's still alive. Do I have to wait for the summer to see how it turns out? Thanks!

[@TheJames2929]

Mathieu Corriveau yeah for sure just wait a little longer thanks bro

[@NE_Patriots50]

I like to winterize my palm trees in the rain too.

[@TheJames2929]

BlueSky Yeah well I guess you can if you have to I just wanted to do it on that day for the video so I could show how to do it before other peoples climates were too cold that way it was right away thanks for your comment

[@JT-ok6re]

James where did you get the thermostat outlet to plug your lights in to control the warmth inside? I love that gadget. I was thinking you had to keep the lights burning all the time.

[@TheJames2929]

Tim Johnson www.google.ca/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjstIPIs8nlAhUEnLMKHXVpDbYYABAAGgJxbg&ae=1&sig=AOD64_2NJDxt70D6tOK5YwiaF_VPfrIhiw&q&adurl=www.amazon.ca/s/?ie%3DUTF8%26keywords%3Dthermo%2Bcube%26index%3Daps%26tag%3Dh0a61-20%26ref%3Dpd_sl_d8fdhx1zb_b%26adgrpid%3D66628374928%26hvpone%3D%26hvptwo%3D%26hvadid%3D310003950600%26hvpos%3D1t1%26hvnetw%3Dg%26hvrand%3D17939384221871571427%26hvqmt%3Db%26hvdev%3Dm%26hvdvcmdl%3D%26hvlocint%3D%26hvlocphy%3D1002347%26hvtargid%3Daud-749511860819:kwd-139143112%26hydadcr%3D16460_9405152%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMI7LSDyLPJ5QIVBJyzCh11aQ22EAAYASAAEgLEIfD_BwE&ved=2ahUKEwidrvzHs8nlAhUPTt8KHRyfDtAQ0Qx6BAgOEAE

[@wannabetropics1913]

Tim Johnson I’ve gotten one off amazon

[@beachtans]

anyone know what those plastic pieces are (to keep screws from messing up the foam board)? I used metal washers last year, but would rather use these plastic things...

[@k9g636]

Minus 20 :O and you got 30 during the summer? That is some crazy temperature differences... I see you have a fence to wind protect the boxes, but some are just above, do you ever get hurricanes and how to you prevent them from flying away? Love your videos btw, lots of good info for a upcoming palm nerd :D

[@TheJames2929]

Kenny Ytrup Yes we can get right around -20c for Lowe’s in the winter. And we get pretty much every day over 30 Celsius in the summer for about half the year sometimes high 30s 35 to 37 Celsius with lots of humidity feeling like well over 40°C in fact it was 33 today with humidity 41 and no we never get much wind here and you could just use pegs to Peggit down I’ve never had a box move too much at all

[@TheJames2929]

And thank you so much for your nice words hope you enjoy them and scribe so you can see new videos

[@k9g636]

@@TheJames2929 Thats crazy. I live in Denmark zone 7b/8a ish. Clima changes is really kicking in here and over the last 5 years, I havent had below minus 8 in my garden during the winters. Last winter I didnt get one single drop of snow 😳 Summer is between 15 to 28 with rain and rarely over 30 degress. I germinate/grow Robusta's as well, so next spring I will plant some in my garden and see how it goes. I will cover them during winter maybe with a heat cable to, but I dont think a box will be necessary if the temperature stays like the last 5 to 6 years and even gets warmer and warmer each year. My biggest concern is if the summer gets hot enough 😄😄 I am already a subscriber ;)

[@TheJames2929]

Kenny Ytrup no I think you’re fine they will not grow quite as fast if the temperature is not that hot but Washingtonia robusta will still grow quite well in cooler temperatures they still grow fast enough that it will be great if it never gets colder than -8 you will not need much protection

[@TheJames2929]

Kenny Ytrup yes we do get over 30° every day here in the summer months but I find they still grow fine in the early spring and late fall when the temperatures are mid 20s however it does slow down

[@brandonflores3330]

Its october 2020 and i already have to protect my washy because our desert is so dry tempetures drop too the 30s to 20s.

[@TheJames2929]

Better safe than sorry

[@nunnayr.business8013]

Wow great tutorial! Thank you! I live in London ON and want to make my backyard look tropical so will be planting palms and this video has shown me it can be done in our climate! My question is, do they need to be protected like this when they reach a height of over 10 feet?

[@TheJames2929]

Joniffer Dejesus Yes if you want them to live they need to be protected every winter in our climate I have one that is over 16 feet tall but I still need to protect of course. it’s not much work like opening and closing your swimming pool one day each year in the spring and in the one day in the fall. If you have anymore questions on what kind of Palm and on protection you can message me on here thanks for your comment. Don’t be scared of the bit of work it’s so much fun and worth it when you say screw you to mother nature everybody else in the springs trees look dead in your palm trees are green and beautiful totally worth it

[@nunnayr.business8013]

James palms thanks for your quick response, I’ve since watched your other videos and have seen that you’ve protected the palm closest to your house in the same way. Oooops, I should have watched more vids before asking lol. Thanks for the time you took to answer my question. Thanks so much! Can’t wait to see the reveal in the spring when you open them back up!

[@TheJames2929]

Joniffer Dejesus awesome yeah it’s only gonna be about two months away I will be making a Videos all the time opening them up just briefly to show how they are doing but I will be taking down the protection in March or first week of April so it won’t be long now and you’ll see they all look perfect. Thanks for watching and commenting and good luck with growing your own palms. And by the way I will be selling Mexican fan palms the same as that one in the video. But a smaller size of coarse. I have grown lots from seed and am now going to be selling some of them in the spring if you’re interested.

[@nunnayr.business8013]

James palms we would definitely be interested. Please let me know in the spring. Thanks

[@TheJames2929]

Joniffer Dejesus for sure

[@Mutatedordinary]

Our first frosts of this year was September 21 and 22, 2020. Live in a much colder climate zone 5b. Got down to at or below 0 Celsius two nights in a row with day temperature at ≈15 Celsius.

[@TheJames2929]

Wyatt Smith that won’t really hurt those palms you just have to make sure you protect it before it gets too too cold

[@Mutatedordinary]

What temp is too cold for it, and what will happen when they get too cold? Will it let you know it’s displeasure by dying immediately?

[@flowercantarero8612]

Should I water it during the cold?

[@TheJames2929]

Flower Cantarero no there is plenty of moisture in the soil I have never once watered in the winter

[@alicel5991]

Can I leave the tree in that type of protection for months without sunlight ?

[@TheJames2929]

Brett party Yes for sure I’ve been doing it for years they do not need any sunlight at all for the winter months simply because of how cool the temperatures are for them they are not growing much so they do not need the sunlight for growth

[@alicel5991]

@@TheJames2929 thank you! I live in northern Pa and am considering planting my windmill palm tree outside this year, I've been growing it in a pot for years now... Thank you again for your answer!

[@TheJames2929]

Brett party no problem windmill palm does the best with being in the dark and then coming right out to full sun

[@satagiuricici8382]

How you protect yr Trachys for the winter??? Same way???

[@TheJames2929]

Sata Giuricici Yep pretty much exactly the same

[@ericwagner6779]

What was the brand and model of heating cable?

[@TheJames2929]

Eric Wagner I’m not sure anyone will do fine they’re just designed for stopping your pipes from bursting there in every hardware store in that section if you live in a colder zone

[@SAL-se4ki]

What are the dimensions of your box?

[@TheJames2929]

It’s different depending on the size of the plant that box there was 4‘ x 4‘ x 8‘ tall

[@afrucamba]

Started watching this vid to get inspiration about how to wrap my palms but ended up with a kid whining for a playground like yours.

[@TheJames2929]

afrucamba lol thanks that’s awesome

[@afrucamba]

Not sure what kind of insulation board you are using cus all I can find is quite expensive. You got a link as example? Would appreciate it!

[@TheJames2929]

afrucamba what country do you live in ?

[@afrucamba]

@@TheJames2929 Netherlands, it looks like you are using "pir" board, not eps right?

[@simonsays365]

happy halloween!!!

[@serendipity9649]

It would be easier to understand your videos, if you didn't talk so fast and did speak a bit louder.

[@TheJames2929]

Serendipity thanks for your comment I will try to do that in future videos some people said they wanted me to speak faster to get the information out quicker some people say they want me to talk louder so I have been trying to. Thanks

[@kellybragg1282]

Can't you just get to the bottom line instead if all that other bs?

[@brianperez3514]

Where do you live

[@TheJames2929]

Brian Perez Ontario Canada

[@pinchiwey8473]

Mine took a beating!!

[@wingwong398]

Speak up

[@TheJames2929]

Wing Wong I am trying to try watching on a different device that has a louder speaker or perhaps try turning on close captioning

[@wingwong398]

James palms ok cheers any tips on looking after the washy

[@wingwong398]

James palms do they get more hardy as they get older I’m in uk I’ve got 3 at about 40 inches high from pit to the top . What temp in Celsius will give them prob

[@TheJames2929]

Wing Wong yes the older ones can take a lot more cold 🥶