Planting a Trachycarpus fortunei & Hardy Palm Care Tips

In today's spring gardening video I plant the stripped trunk Trachycarpus fortunei fan palm you saw in my last video - the beautiful Chinese Windmill or Chusan palm is a fantastic hardy exotic plant with fast growing big leaves that's perfect for a jungle theme or UK tropical style garden. I look at different Trachycarpus palm care tips, how to plant a palm (well, more like how NOT to later in the video), soil requirements and improvements, fertiliser and feeding your palm with Palm Focus etc. and also when is the best time to plant a Trachycarpus and other feather palms like Jubaea chilensis, Butia odorata and Phoenix canariensis here in the UK and other colder climate exotic gardens.
The feeds and fertilisers I mentioned can be found below, Amazon affiliate links help support the channel at no cost to you!:
Palm Focus: amzn.to/3KdiV5f
Budget Friendly Liquid Seaweed Palm Growth Stimulant:
amzn.to/3JpZsNP
Premium Organic Liquid Seaweed, great for a lot of tropical style plants: amzn.to/3JhTpdL
5lt Liquid Seaweed Drum for more palm growth!: amzn.to/3LGYrST
0:00 Intro
0:22 Planting Tips for Hardy Trachycarpus fortunei palms
1:12 When is the best time to plant out a Trachycarpus palm in the UK?
3:11 When to plant out fan and feather palms in UK gardens
4:57 Palm growth rates and planting position tips
7:44 Planting a mature stripped-trunk Trachycarpus palm in my jungle garden
8:46 Soil Improvement & Planting Tips for Healthy Trachycarpus Palms
9:58 Improving heavy clay soil with organic matter mulches & raised beds
10:45 Improve sandy soil, add nutrients & reduce watering with organic matter
11:26 Planting out a large potted Trachycarpus palm tree
13:04 A healthy palm rootball and teasing roots out?
13:45 A tip for planting out large plants more easily!
16:57 Trachycarpus fortunei, Phoenix canariensis & tree ferns in my UK tropical garden
If you enjoy my videos and would like to say thanks for the price of a coffee then please head over to my Ko-fi here, any kind donations would be appreciated and all money is put towards creating more exciting content: ko-fi.com/georgesjunglegarden​​
Thanks,
George

[@joannejohnston3531]

Great video George! Love the dramatic music! Really good tips and advise as I’m about to plant out a very sad looking trachycarpus that I got from trash nothing and I’ve ordered some palm boost after watching your other video. Thank you for all the great advise as really helpful.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks Joanne. I hope it pulls through quickly with some TLC, it's the perfect time of year to plant it out and give it the best chance!

[@PaulSmith-io3nu]

Can't believe you've put this up, I am about to plant one out tomorrow, just finished digging the hole!! Perfect timing 😄🌴

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one Paul, enjoy and I hope it grows well for you!

[@craigrogers3864]

Hi George, keep up the great work! 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Craig and thank you very much!

[@DJSupaflyguy]

👌👌👌👌 Thanks for the tips.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for stopping by and watching again 😃

[@PaulCFC]

wish i’d waited two weeks before planting my Trachycarpus...Your vid would’ve saved me some grief! Keep up the excellent work George 💯👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching 😃 What part of the video would have helped you out of interest?

[@davidbanner9001]

I'm on what I would describe as medium clay. With all my palms (usually 4ft overall height when bought) I dig twice as deep and twice as wide as what it probably needed. Add a good combination of compost and well rotted manure and basically mound plant a little. Then add some chicken manure pellets for good measure. Probably a little over the top, but it works for me.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That sounds like very similar to what I'd do in clay, you've got the soil prep there, the mound for drainage and the manure plus pellets for a boosted start in the ground, can't fault you!

[@palmsexoticsuk2194]

I’ve been there with the jeans, George! “RIP” though? I’d say there was plenty of life left in them yet 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

They will be living on in a new capacity with extra ventilation, don’t worry 😂

[@tillymintball1641]

Really helpful, thank you. I always understood that Carlisle/Newcastle are the centre of the UK (if you fold it in half, lengthwise).

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

No worries! I imagine you're on the money with that, it was more of a generalisation as geographically, climate wise and in terms of the growing season we'd be somewhere in the middle, there's a lot of people who watch my vids from abroad who won't be familiar with places, that's all.

[@shineamenmbs3107]

Welcome to the Jungle! Perfect arrangement, even if not yet finished! Summer is calling...Can I have a San Pellegrino please?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! It'll soon be here I'm sure! Then we'll be complaining it's too hot most likely...

[@shineamenmbs3107]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden hahaha, yes most likely! lol

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@shineamenmbs3107 😂

[@PaulConnor100]

Great tips as usual George, I planted my Trachycarpus Fortunei a month ago raised bed, slight clay well broken and John innes no. 3 grit added and wee treat fish/bonemeal, chicken pellets, farmyard manure as mulch. I noticed leaf tips are going yellowish and maybe losing that dark green and splitting, I haven't gave them Palm focus yet just water 2 x per week.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Paul, it could be a bit of shock but it sounds like you've done everything right, the main thing while it's warm and the palm is settling in is to keep it well watered. It'll probably spend most of this year settling in but I'm sure you'll be seeing healthy green growth in no time!

[@P_ESAR]

always great content!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much, it's appreciated!

[@alanhunter2009]

I share your pain with removing the Trachycarpus from its pot. As a pensioner, there's no way I could have managed that nowadays without help from the wife! You did it very well and made it look easy.......are you available to travel and rent out your pot-bound plant removal services? :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

To be honest, I probably should have got somebody to help me to be fair Alan! After gaining the experience of doing this with all my plants over the last year and a half, would I travel around to do it for other people... not a chance haha! It would cost me too much in jeans for a start!

[@missdimples1982]

This time it's very difficult to not take this video out of context, especially on the removal from the pot 😂🤣

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes... I can promise that's it for slightly dubious innuendo for now though!

[@TheLittleGreenBee]

Good job you’re strong it would have taken a Crain for me to plant something that big and probably quite a few choice words when I realised I’d got it out of the pot 3ft away from where I wanted it 😅but a plastic sack underneath to slide it on would have saved my bacon😄

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

😂 Yeah, I’m sure it could have been slid across. Luckily it was in compost rather than heavy soil otherwise I’d have done the same!

[@maxthecat14]

I pass a very sad looking Trachycarpus when i go to visit my son and his family. it is the only plant in a paved front garden. i think about your lovely garden whenever i see it.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Oh dear, that's a shame! With a little bit of TLC or the right spot it could be a beauty!

[@carlflay431]

Collected my Chamaerops Humilis today from Hardy Palms, stunning plant around 5 feet tall. I will be planting into the ground tomorrow and Nigel suggested digging a hole similar size to the pot to begin with and to fill with water to check natural drainage and to maybe dig in some gravel and organic matter if the water did not drain away sufficiently. Might have to cut the pot as not sure I’ll be able to lift which is unfortunate to waste a good pot. Thanks for the video, was useful for the task ahead

[@46FreddieMercury91]

you could lie the pot and palm on its side and roll it around whilst gently kicking the pot. Helps loosen it. Then pull palm out sideways whilst its still on its side. Less gravity 😉

[@carlflay431]

@@46FreddieMercury91 Yes, it’s quite bushy so I guess I could shrink wrap the fronds in and do it that way to save wasting a good large pot.I think I will do that.Cheers

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@46FreddieMercury91 That’s a great tip for palms that you can manoeuvre onto their side and back again. I’ve got one palm that I’ll have to cut the pot on but every other one I’ve kept the pot to be reused 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching Carl and congratulations on the new palm, that’s solid advice from Nigel, all I’m saying is I prefer improving the soil over a larger area. They’re always quality plants from Hardy Palms!

[@joezimmerman1089]

A blue Chamaerops cerifera palm would look great there!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

That was actually one of the possible contenders and a great shout but I’ve saved it for the bluer, spikier end of the garden. My choice is very similar though, you’ll see it in a video very soon!

[@henrywaterhouse6291]

Good advice, I have found no issues planting any palm at any time of year as long as its not freezing wet. The key is like you said, drainage. I can't understand waiting til spring, the soil doesn't warm lower down til summer/autumn like the sea . Autumn would be the logical time or even early winter whilst the soil is relatively warm. In the ground you have a stable none fluctuating temperature, in a pot the temperature goes up and down in a day. The ground takes months to do the same. The worst time or least beneficial is summer, unless you water well. Also if you dig a hole in clay and put gravel at the bottom for drainage, all you do is create a sump and if the root all is compost /coir then again it acts as a sump. Raised or mound planting is the answer. With a few exceptions any time of year is ok, in fairness you get a good idea in winter if you have planted it in a wet spot, whereas in summer or autumn the ground may be dry, only to get sodden come winter where you have put the plant in. Drainage and mulch are the success in nice stable temperature in the ground and less so with time of year, in a pot outside the roots go through multiple freezings, never so in the ground with a mulch.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Henry and thank you, you add some great points. Regarding the soil warming lower down taking months of sun, you're completely correct and for bigger palms in most locations time is not really a factor in my eyes as long as it's not literally frozen. For smaller palms, potentially those bought from supermarkets etc though, taking them from a small pot that could could very easily be moved to a sheltered spot to planting them out in colder, wet soil during winter isn't the best start in more borderline areas. The Butia I planted out and lost was actually outlived by the potted Butia in this video, which was just kept close to the house during the same cold spell. I'm convinced that while pots freeze through easier like you say, the plant being kept in a pot of relatively dry coir helped it's drainage whereas the planted one must have taken on the sump effect meaning that it was sat in cold wet soil which did the damage. I've always raised up my other feather palms as you can see, I always try to push that style of raised planting rather than just adding drainage locally which creates the sump. I wasn't trying to stress the soil temperature as the main factor, more the overall environment being 'friendlier' in spring - warmer surface soil even in April, drier and perhaps most importantly the plant having a good long season to get it's roots down before winter, the risk of severe cold is passed and it can progressively get used to the conditions before it returns. I know somebody who lost a large winter-planted Trachycarpus in Scotland, it didn't see crazy temperatures below -10 but it did see a long freeze soon after planting and had been in a small pot. Personally I'd have kept that close to the house or in the garage where it could have been shielded from the cold and planted it out in spring where it could have built up a bigger root system and there would have been less immediate shock - I'm more than happy to plant any time of year here myself but it's tricky to give one size fits all advice so I often err on the side of caution with blanket statements! Thanks for adding your expertise, few people have got your practical experience in this matter and the points you make about summer plantings potentially being in spots that become waterlogged in winter and that a lot of plants are just better in the ground ASAP full stop are very valid points that I will mention in a future feather palm video. All the best Henry and will hopefully catch up soon!

[@henrywaterhouse6291]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden the supermarket palm and the Dutch greenhouse grown ones are another thing indeed, soft quick, inside growth. Usually fry as soon as planted out. Like some of the big palms you get, British weather on the fronds, then toast. Until you get your British fronds grown! I do remember hearing a few people growing trachy seedlings in the ground and in pots, a bad winter later, one's in the ground untouched, pots were toast. The main thing I've seen in bigger potted palms is he amount of dead roots especially round the pot edges, frosted. Definitely take your point with small more delicate palms. I did plant 3 or 4 small jubaea last winter, ones I grew in soil in pots like they do commercially in chilie, settled in nicely. I had thought about doing an experiment with making a solar heating coil under a palm to warm the soil earlier, see if I could get more growth on a test palm. Might try it on a decent sized butia paraguayensis x sygras I got last year. That musa 'Tibet' has retained 3 foot stem this winter, so should be something nice the summer. Has that one I gave you started moving yet?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@henrywaterhouse6291 You're completely right about the Dutch greenhouse plants, a night and day difference to the plants you get from Nigel etc and I try to take into account a lot of newer people who watch my vids will have bought theirs from Tesco etc. As for the waiting for the British fronds, you're right again, my Jubutia is showing some yellowing / damage on the older leaves but is pushing plenty of newer growth through now and I'm looking forward to getting it planted this spring (raised in a berm / bank before you ask!). That's a decent idea about the heating coil, presumably you may need to combine it with a shelter or enclosure for more marginal palms? As for the Musa 'Tibet', that's great to know - the one you very kindly gave me hasn't grown hugely but is pushing a leaf up now, it'll be getting a place outside this spring too!

[@vincenzecalzone8666]

First class entertainment mate. Love the Laurel and Hardy sketch where you were straddling the trunk. I defy anyone not to find that amusing even if you're not a fan of palms😂😂. Great work with the planting

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks, it's how I'd get it out if nobody was watching so I didn't see a need to change things just for the camera! Thank you, I know you're on board when palmage is involved!

[@NickCraggs]

A great video. How has it been having the Tracy next to the the phoenix, next to the DA which needs a lot of water?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much Nick. The Trachy and Phoenix will merge nicely (hopefully) and it’s maybe not very obvious but the Phoenix is raised up slightly so will be a bit drier in winter. The DA is next to my main tree fern area so gets additional water when I put my sprinkler on. To be honest it’s not too much of a concern here, I wouldn’t recommend mixing real arid plants with tree ferns but palms will cope OK, I don’t have to water the ferns that much in our wetter winters.

[@richardpowers9110]

Thanks George. Oh btw, your fit!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching Richard! The word knackered seems a better choice for me after this video but I appreciate the compliment!

[@richardpowers9110]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden 😀

[@TropicalJungleIreland]

Hi George. Mind the back !! Nice video, when would you start giving plants their liquid feeds like palms, bananas etc ?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and don’t worry, this wasn’t quite as heavy as you might think, compost is a good bit lighter than the soil they sometimes come in. As for the feeding, palms can start later this month or May in my garden, bananas, whenever they’re growing well so probably mid May again.

[@markhaines6819]

Love your videos george😁bought a chamerops humilis from b&q and after a little research I think it has black spot. I read about cutting the infected leaves off and treating it with some kind of fungle treatment but not sure which🤔

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Mark. Chamaerops can be susceptible to some black spots, particularly in humid areas or after a wet winter. I’ve heard of people using All Clear or something like that but personally I don’t use fungicides or pesticides in the garden. They generally send out healthy leaves in summer and with a bit more airflow in winter or maybe adding gravel to the soil to stop any fungus being splashed up you might have more joy.

[@markhaines6819]

Thanks for the reply george.hope concrete goes well today in this heat😎plenty of ice pop's haha

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@markhaines6819 Progress has gone well thanks, but yes, way too warm! We got a mega early start today and that was definitely wise!

[@parttimeninja5521]

Not including the jeansrip is missing out on comedy gold :D

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

😂 I obviously carried on without it but decided it had to be worth a mention!

[@paoloesposito9986]

Great video, thanks! For palms in pot, what advice would you give if I were to use a tall more conical pot, rather than a cylindrical one like the one you show here?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Paolo! As long as the pot is big enough and not too narrow it should be just fine 👍

[@paoloesposito9986]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks George, much appreciated!

[@happydonutfarts6235]

A bit of careful cutting onto the pot via a sawzall is a whole lot easier than yanking a tree for its removal.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Very true, if it's a pot I'm not worried about keeping or a plant that's especially sensitive to root disturbance then I tend to cut the pot away too.

[@themoorlandsallotment7159]

Great video. Last year I purchased 2 Trachycarpus Fortunei one was a bargain (maybe not, a year on). The first was from a well known palm specialist, pot grown and had great root system. The bargain-NOT turned out to have chopped tiny roots. Planted both. The pot grown one a year on is looking great the other terrible. Yellow, drying, stretched leaves. Considering just ripping it out. it was in lawn (with a good circle removed around the palm). I have removed the grass completely now as thinking that could be stealing the water/nutrients. Found leather jackets under the lawn do you think these could have attacked the palm too? Or more likely to be a deficiency? The other is in a soil bed.I had used tree fern fertiliser all last summer on it (bottle said good for palms too).

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much. In all honesty my answer based on that information is that I'd wait. One of my transplanted palms looks rough too, they will take a while to settle in. With these kind of plants, especially recently dug up ones, they can take 2-3 years to really settle in, it's not something they'll do over a single year. The other thing to consider is the the stretched leaves indicate that it was grown in a more sheltered location previously so you may need to wait another year or two for more resilient foliage to come through. You're right in removing the lawn around it though and a feed of specific fertiliser or some liquid seaweed will help give it a boost too.

[@themoorlandsallotment7159]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George, I'm going to take your advice and leave it be. A lesson in improving my patience is needed too 😀. Hoping my regular feeding all last year is helping as after investigation I can see a new leaf pushing through and it looks a better colour. Is it time now to recommence feeding? I have mulched with well rotted manure through winter.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@themoorlandsallotment7159 We all need that lesson! I'd start feeding over the next month or so, yes. I've got a similar transplanted Trachycarpus that's struggling, but time and a bit of TLC should improve things. The manure should give it a great start and I'm sure they'll both start pushing out some healthier green growth soon enough.

[@emilm2331]

Thanks again! You mention chicken manure in other videos, would this be an okay universal fertalizer? - Also for Trachycarpus'? I suppose musas they have no problem at all with this.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks for watching! I use it as a pretty general purpose nitrogen fertiliser for spring and summer, yes. A sprinkling will give palms a boost then feel free to go, well, bananas with it when you're feeding your bananas and big leaved tropicals!

[@greghutton1896]

Hi George another great video. I am thinking of taking a risk and planting out my Washie. I am thinking of planting it near a house wall for a bit of radiated heat. How close to the wall can I plant it ? Cheers

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Greg and thank you very much. Whereabouts in the country are you? The closer to the wall, the more protection BUT Washies get BIG. If you Google 'Washingtonia growth rate in southern England at 50-52N' you'll find a thread that'll give you an idea of how much room it'll need just for the leaves.

[@greghutton1896]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Hi George thanks for the reply. I am in the North West

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@greghutton1896 I'd definitely consider the fact that they're not a long term hardy plant up here currently but who knows what the coming winters will bring. Like I said it's a tricky balance between wanting to have them somewhere sheltered and leaving enough room but if you're optimistic enough to plant it out and willing to protect while it's small, I'd prioritise leaving enough room for it to grow well in the future!

[@palmlifeuk3553]

Ever had a go with a washingtonia Robusta or is it too cold during winter where you are? I'm in the south and mine is doing well.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I actually lost a Robusta by keeping it inside my old conservatory before I realised they depend on the airflow more than a lot of plants. I will be planting out a filibusta eventually I think but in reality we’re probably a bit cold up here. Being rural is probably the biggest factor, its definitely colder than being in the towns unfortunately! Who knows what the next 10 or 20 winters might be like though…

[@palmlifeuk3553]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden they are probably the fastest growing palm if you have the right conditions. I've up loaded a video showing mine after this years winter. I've had it for 8/9 years now. Only really got going once in the ground.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@palmlifeuk3553 Thanks, I'll have a look at yours later. I'll maybe have to give one a go in a very sheltered part of the garden - you're right in that no other palms can really match their pace of growth. They are fantastic things to see!

[@keithtaylor7736]

I have just pulled one of these from beneath my hedge. To my knowledge it ha been horizontal since we purchased the house 5 years ago. It is around 8 feet long with several leaf fans. The plant has been laying sideways along the ground beneath the hedge. We decided to pull it out to see if we could erect it in the garden. When it was finally dragged out we found that it has obviously been cut down as at the base is basically a trunk about 9 inches in diameter, no roots, just a sawn through trunk. The plant appears healthy with about a dozen fan like leaves. I assume it's been getting its nutrients from the main trunk being in contact with the ground as it has no apparent roots? Should we just dig a hole and put it in, or should we shorten the trunk a little first?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Just replied to your other comment Keith, it's definitely an unusual one and a photo would definitely help! Thanks.

[@DJSupaflyguy]

Hi, I’ve got a few trachycarpus fortunei 2 leaves which I have overwintered in cheap plastic greenhouse, do you think they’ll be ok to plant out in Northwest this year then ? Thanks. 👌👌👌👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, if it's a relatively sheltered spot then you could but I'd be tempted to give them another year or two of pot growing if they're going to have to fend for themselves somewhere less optimal.

[@DJSupaflyguy]

George’s Jungle Garden yeah I’ll do that then thanks. 🙏👌👌👌👌

[@lindaoakley3493]

I planted mine about 15 years ago a few feet from my house. It desperately needs to be moved now as it’s reaching the upstairs windows. Any advice on moving it as I want to give it the best chance of survival 🤞 x

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, if you absolutely have to move it then my top tips would be so do it now, in spring, or autumn whilst it's cooler and wetter (it'll need watering well too in it's new place while it settles in). Try to get as much rootball as possible and also remove a few of the lower leaves to make up for the root loss. Good luck, I imagine it'll be quite a job!

[@kris662]

So I got a trachy from b&m dug a huge hole then took the plant out the pot and the root ball was barely a quarter of the pot. Is this normal?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Kris and apologies for the late reply, life has been busy but I’m working through the comments now. Unfortunately with recently imported Trachycarpus from places that aren’t specialists it can be a bit of a lottery when it comes to how well rooted they are, particularly during the season. Pretty much any large Trachycarpus you buy are field grown then dug up and rooted into small pots for transport. I have seen others mention that it’s suspected the massive demand this year has lead to many plants being supplied before they’re fully rooted in the pots and I suspect this is what’s happened with yours. It’ll maybe take a few years to settle in before it grows away well but you can help it with some Palm Booster during the summer months to assist with rooting and watering it well during drier spells.

[@andrearevill6679]

hi George, I've purchased a six foot (including pot)Jubaea chilensis in a huge pot ,just wondering if you thought it would be OK to plant out now ,it's going in a well drained raised up border in a sheltered corner. Don't really want to leave it in the pot to long as it's got two large splits in it . cheers

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Andrea and congratulations on the new Jubaea! Yes, definitely go for it, it’s a good time to get it in, especially if the pot is split.

[@andrearevill6679]

cheers, will be busy digging next weekend then.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@andrearevill6679 Enjoy and good luck! 😃

[@andrearevill6679]

👍

[@WayneCatlin]

I'm transferring 3 of these into bigger pots, will literally any compost be okay or do I need a specific type?? Cheers!!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi Wayne, you'll probably hear different answers from different growers but I prefer a heavier compost and wouldn't go for anything too light and peaty. My large tubs were all plants up with a mixture of a good multipurpose mixed with some well rotted manure and it seemed to work well. Coir also works well but requires a lot of feeding and watering so probably not the best option for larger Trachycarpus in pots.

[@WayneCatlin]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Nice one matey!! I appreciate your response!! 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@WayneCatlin No worries, I hope they grow well for you 😊

[@abdulrazzak9199]

Can you feed palm trees with tomato feed?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I suppose you can, yes, they don't need anything too high in nitrogen. It's maybe not 100% targeted but as long as you dilute it down, should help give them a little boost!

[@46FreddieMercury91]

As much as i love to grow my trachycarpus army, i wish Washingtonia had the same level of hardiness. I wonder if they could breed them through DNA engineering?

[@23sleng]

Just pop them together in a room, and put the Barry white CD on

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

@@23sleng Haha, if only it was that easy!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

I get you, that would definitely be a larger and faster growing fan palm for the UK for sure! I'm sure it'll be possible in future but in the shorter term I'd be interested in knowing if any 'x filibuster' hybrids or either parent made it through the freezes in Dallas etc, seeds from any of the surviving Washies might be worth growing on and investigating!

[@emgordonmail]

Palm tree advice - please. How should I be correctly pruning my handsome 20 yr old palm trees like yours which I bought as foot high youngsters to create a Mediterranean garden. To date I have only been cutting off any drooping & browning fronds and seed pods etc. Now a local “professional Tree Surgeon” has so-say “pruned” my trees for me - by chopping 3” off many of the still green still erect healthy leaves this year! My tree looks awful! After only 7 weeks they are fast turning totally yellow!! I read that only floppy brown fronds should be removed from a palm tree as the tree needs its food from the green ones, so to cut the ends of the fronds like this the tree is being robbed of its nourishment. Is this correct? Are all the hacked now yellowing leaves really dying? Help!! Advice please would be really appreciated.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and apologies for my delayed reply. It’s not good that your palm has been overpruned but unfortunately I guess it may not have been a specialist subject of your tree surgeon and even in Warner countries they can get butchered. Yeah, the general rule is to leave any green leaves / fronds like you have been doing and generally lean on the side of a more natural look than cutting too many slightly brown ones off. I wouldn’t say for definite that the chopped leaves are dying but any time a leaf is cut there’s potential for it to brown or die back to an extent. There will be a certain amount of nutrients lost in any chopped off foliage but I think the larger effect is that you’re removing the plant’s potential to generate more energy which may slow it slightly. Presumably there’s fresh green leaves coming through? Barring any external factors your palm should be just fine and will outgrow the damage but something to be wary of avoiding in the future.