Best Way to Secure a Transplant

[Alicehunter2000]

What is the best way to brace a transplanted tall palm from tipping over. Please be specific and detailed.

My plan for my new 25 ft. and 15 ft. W. robusta's:

1. Hurricane cut except for the spear to reduce wind drag.

2. Get as big a rootball as possible.

3. Bury a 6 inches deeper than present soil level in current location.

4. Use 3 long ropes tied 3/4 from the top at as close to 45 degrees as possible and tether the tree to current fencing, trees, or the ground.

5. Use 3 - 10 ft. 4x4's and tripod the lower part of the tree to the ground by screwing the 4x4 posts to posts sunk into the ground.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Joe palma]

David,

Using 4x4s for bracing sounds a bit overkill. 2x4s should do just fine. They way to fasten to the tree, that I have seen used, are metal banding straps (used for say bundling lumber or shipping crates) that holds 3 pieces of small 2x4's held flat (4" side, actually 3.5") against the palm. The band should not touch the palm (you may need more than three 2x4s to keep it off of it, if it is fat). Then the bracing 2x4 is nailed to the small 2x4 piece (no nails in the palm!!). You have the other end figured out, just nail it to a post driven in the ground. Wish I had a pic to share.

[Alicehunter2000]

Thanks Joe, that was one of the specific things that I was wanting to know. How do I tighten and secure the straps. Do they have a banding "gun" or something like that, that will tighten and crimp the straps together? How do I attach the 2x4's to the strapping material......I will probably be doing it by myself, so I can't hold the boards up and tighten the straps at the same time. The boards will first have to be nailed or otherwise affixed to the stapping material....carried up, then banded.

The only reason for the 4x4's is because I already have some for free

[Alicehunter2000]

Will W. robusta's be adversely affected by burying 6 inches or a foot deeper than present depth? I know some palms hate this and die.......how about robusta's?

[Joe palma]

Free is good! Those 4x4s will do the job.  

Yes there is a strap tensining and a seperate crimping hand tool (at least the ones I have seen).

Usually you would have someone help and hold the 2x4 pieces against the tree till you could tighten the strap down.

I think you have it though, staple, or affix somehow, them to the strap and then locate and tighten.

I, personally, would plant it at the same level. It is risky to do otherwise. Why are you desiring to lower it??

[Alicehunter2000]

Just for more support...........hurricane season starts soon around here.

[osideterry]

What about that metal strapping stuff you use to secure a hot water heater. It comes with the thing you tighten with a flat-head screwdriver.

[Tad]

like this, see if I can explain.

step one ..secure 4 short pices of 2X4 to trunk, using wire banding or rachet straps.

DO NOT NAIL INTO TREE

nail long 2X4's to the ones on trunk.

drive medium 2X4's into ground and attach the longer ones to those, with nails.

unless palms are showing tons of adventitious roots I dont like to plant them 6 inches deeper.

I dont like rope at all for securing larger palms.

good luck!

Tad

[Joe palma]

That's it!

Thanks Tad

[Ken Johnson]

David,

One brand of banding machine is called a "Bandit". They are expensive.

When you are done with the job the palm won't move except in a hurricane in which case all bets are off!

BTW do not dig "as big a ball" as you can get. The palm will be too heavy and the lifting straps will dig into the trunk and squeeze it to death. Look at the balls in Tads pix for an idea on size.

[Tad]

www.uline.com is where Brad bought the bander we use.

[gsn]

I do not own one of those banding machines,nor did I have access to one.

I used fairly heavy gauge wire , wrapped it around the 2x4,making sure it didn't touch the trunk of the palm,and twisted it to hold the small 2x4 in place. You can tighten it pretty tight twisting it. One wire above and one below where the long 2x4's are nailed to the small ones

I didn't see any problems with this method,but the experts (Ken,Tad) can correct me if I am WRONG?

[Tad]

i have seen it done using ratchet straps as well, as long as the binding is tight , but not so tight it forces the nailers into the trunk. call me anything you like but I am no expert.

[gsn]

Tad ,you and Ken have probably done it more than anyone else here.I would call you guys the experts! ::

[Tad]

i really dont plant that often, I am more of a digger upper and waver goodbye kinda guy, not an expert, really seriously not. although i did stay at a holiday inn express the other night.

[Alicehunter2000]

(Ken Johnson @ Mar. 06 2008,19:17)

QUOTE

Look at the balls in Tads pix for an idea on size.

I am too appreciative of all your answers to make any jokes concerning the wording of Mr. Johnson's imput.  ::  ???    :laugh:  

That banding equipment looks pretty useful If someone were doing alot of this type work. Probably should be added to a useful links list. I confirmed my getting the palms this afternoon   . It seems the gentleman who I am getting them from, mistook them for L. chinesis when they were small, so now he has a nice head-high L. chinesis and 2 huge robusta's that are blocking the sunlight into his home.

[Alicehunter2000]

BTW Ken, do you buy alot of large robusta's from peoples yards? What price do you normally give them or do they have to pay you for the removal? You probably have quite a collection of specimen palms, how bout some pics.

I am going to stop by Home Depot and Lowe's tommorow to check on banding and or heavy gauge wire, thanks again everyone for your advice.

Oh, one more thing......those Washies do have quite a bit of aerial roots at the base......I noticed it tonight when I was meeting the current owner.