Poor old palmie never rooted well and was leaning over. Probably not planted correctly, possibly pushed over by kids, possibly got too damp from nearby sprinkler head, possibly damaged by freeze or strong winds. Palmie was dug and cut out of the ground a month ago, lay near the sidewalk for almost a week, and then someone carried her off to an uncertain future, but at least better than straight into the trash.
I had already been thinking, almost since the day of planting almost 3 years ago, that palmie was planted in the wrong location. Even if palmie had good roots, a transplant operation would be very expensive (to have professionally done, by professional tree service at $250-$400 per hour). It would have been cheaper simply to buy new palm and have nursery plant it. Or it would have been dicey for me and my friend, who know little about such things. Dicey means it could end up like last time or worse. All this to save what was a $29 tree.
By my lights, Palmie was too close to the street and sidewalk at only 3 feet from the sidewalk. My chief concern was visibility when pulling out a car, and also not blocking the sidewalk with fronds.
Buying a new palm to have nursery plant is the plan now. My friend suggested having way back from street this time, and the same distance as the existing tree from the street. She further suggested having the new palm very close to that old tree, which is well past its expected lifetime anyway and lost several major branches last year. We don't expect that tree to last much longer anyway. She felt this was a good location because the existing tree is at the top of a gentle rise, and so there would be better drainage.
I resisted the idea of planting close to the old tree at first, but now I see it is essential. I plan to widen the driveway by about 6 feet. The palm should be an additional 6 feet minimum from the new driveway, or at least 12 feet from the existing driveway. I had been thinking about allowing some additional margin and making it 14 feet from the existing driveway. The old tree starts around 16 feet from the existing driveway.
Further, I'm now thinking of having at least 2 palms. One 12 feet from the street (that almost lines up with the old tree) and the second 24 feet from the street. There are about 50 feet to work with from the sidewalk to the front door. I could have 3 palms at 12', 22', and 32'. Here's one of the few links I've found on spacing Washingtonia Robusta palms, which suggests a mere 6 foot spacing (minimum).
I had already been thinking, almost since the day of planting almost 3 years ago, that palmie was planted in the wrong location. Even if palmie had good roots, a transplant operation would be very expensive (to have professionally done, by professional tree service at $250-$400 per hour). It would have been cheaper simply to buy new palm and have nursery plant it. Or it would have been dicey for me and my friend, who know little about such things. Dicey means it could end up like last time or worse. All this to save what was a $29 tree.
By my lights, Palmie was too close to the street and sidewalk at only 3 feet from the sidewalk. My chief concern was visibility when pulling out a car, and also not blocking the sidewalk with fronds.
Buying a new palm to have nursery plant is the plan now. My friend suggested having way back from street this time, and the same distance as the existing tree from the street. She further suggested having the new palm very close to that old tree, which is well past its expected lifetime anyway and lost several major branches last year. We don't expect that tree to last much longer anyway. She felt this was a good location because the existing tree is at the top of a gentle rise, and so there would be better drainage.
I resisted the idea of planting close to the old tree at first, but now I see it is essential. I plan to widen the driveway by about 6 feet. The palm should be an additional 6 feet minimum from the new driveway, or at least 12 feet from the existing driveway. I had been thinking about allowing some additional margin and making it 14 feet from the existing driveway. The old tree starts around 16 feet from the existing driveway.
Further, I'm now thinking of having at least 2 palms. One 12 feet from the street (that almost lines up with the old tree) and the second 24 feet from the street. There are about 50 feet to work with from the sidewalk to the front door. I could have 3 palms at 12', 22', and 32'. Here's one of the few links I've found on spacing Washingtonia Robusta palms, which suggests a mere 6 foot spacing (minimum).
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