watering newly planted palm trees in clay soil

[dmalysh]

1 hour ago, Jeff985 said:

Houston’s climate can definitely be volatile. On average we’re 9a-9b, but occasionally we’ll have what the meteorologists refer to as a 30 year freeze. We had one just over a year ago in January 2018. Most of the queens survived that especially southern and eastern parts of the area (closer to the gulf and the bay). Also I’ve seen many Pygmy survivors in those areas. I haven’t seen any pygmys in the western parts of the area like Katy that survived that. Because of these 30 year freezes I don’t spend a lot of money buying large zone pushers. All my large palms are hardy to my zone or below (sabals, p. Sylvestris, and one large queen). I do however have many zone pushers that I bought small for not a lot of money. I have pygmys, foxtails, and archontophoenix. I know that someday, maybe even next winter, another 30 year freeze will come along and take them out but odds are it will be a while. I will probably even move before it happens again. I’ll enjoy them until then. 

My friend has a bunch of queen palms and one of them, that was the tallest did not survive the 2018 freezing temps..  That winter was so brutal, but, surprisingly Pygmy dates seemed to do just fine! Why do you say they might freeze? Did yours freeze in 2018?

Edited April 13, 2019 by dmalysh

[Jeff985]

8 minutes ago, dmalysh said:

My friend has a bunch of queen palms and one of them, that was the tallest did not survive the 2018 freezing temps..  That winter was so brutal, but, surprisingly Pygmy dates seemed to do fine just fine! Why do you say they might freeze? Did yours freeze in 2018?

Actually. I bought all my pygmys after that freeze. I got them at the end of last summer when they were 70% off. 2 feet or trunk for $20. I ended up getting six of them and planting them just before winter and they did just fine. My comment about them freezing was based on the fact that I haven’t seen any north or west of 610. There may be some in the Katy area that I just haven’t seen. With protection one could have definitely survived that freeze, and pygmys are small enough they aren’t hard to protect. 

[dmalysh]

19 minutes ago, Jeff985 said:

Actually. I bought all my pygmys after that freeze. I got them at the end of last summer when they were 70% off. 2 feet or trunk for $20. I ended up getting six of them and planting them just before winter and they did just fine. My comment about them freezing was based on the fact that I haven’t seen any north or west of 610. There may be some in the Katy area that I just haven’t seen. With protection one could have definitely survived that freeze, and pygmys are small enough they aren’t hard to protect. 

I did not see that size of pygmies at the garden centers.. wow! What a bargain you got!

I will keep my eyes open, and look for the pygmies in the area.. Also, they are sold at our local garden centers and overwinter in pots right where they are, outside. So I assume, they should be fine in our backyards as well

Edited April 13, 2019 by dmalysh

[Jeff985]

2 minutes ago, dmalysh said:

I will keep my eyes open, and look for the pygmies in the area.. Also, they are sold at our local garden centers and overwinter in pots right where they are, outside. So I assume, they should be fine in our backyards as well

I’m new to the area. I’ve only been here two years, but based on everything I’ve seen, heard, and read, they will do fine most winters. I’ve read and seen pictures of kings and foxtails that survived for nearly a decade in Katy. If you like them, plant them. Just know that a day will come when you will either have to protect them or let them die which will suck but it will also create an opportunity to start over. Doing the research, tracking down the plants and playing in the dirt is half of the fun. Also who knows. The next hard freeze may not come in our lifetime. Odds are it will, but I’m not going to let these freak occurrences stop me from enjoying my property. 

[dmalysh]

5 minutes ago, Jeff985 said:

I’m new to the area. I’ve only been here two years, but based on everything I’ve seen, heard, and read, they will do fine most winters. I’ve read and seen pictures of kings and foxtails that survived for nearly a decade in Katy. If you like them, plant them. Just know that a day will come when you will either have to protect them or let them die which will suck but it will also create an opportunity to start over. Doing the research, tracking down the plants and playing in the dirt is half of the fun. Also who knows. The next hard freeze may not come in our lifetime. Odds are it will, but I’m not going to let these freak occurrences stop me from enjoying my property. 

Well said! Totally agree! 

[Xenon]

1 hour ago, Jeff985 said:

I’ve read and seen pictures of kings and foxtails that survived for nearly a decade in Katy. If you like them, plant them. Just know that a day will come when you will either have to protect them or let them die which will suck but it will also create an opportunity to start over. 

I used to admire the kings and foxtails at the Willie's next to Lowes, too bad I never got a picture before 2010 wiped them out. They only live in 2007 streetview now. The 2000s were deceptively mild. There's still a big orange bird of paradise on the property that doesn't seem phased by our winters. 

Highly doubt any pygmy dates survived in Katy. I used to know of some big ones in Memorial but haven't checked on them. Many of the pygmy dates that survived in the west and south loop have already nearly regenerated a full crown. 

[Jeff985]

10 minutes ago, Xenon said:

I used to admire the kings and foxtails at the Willie's next to Lowes, too bad I never got a picture before 2010 wiped them out. They only live in 2007 streetview now. The 2000s were deceptively mild. There's still a big orange bird of paradise on the property that doesn't seem phased by our winters. 

Highly doubt any pygmy dates survived in Katy. I used to know of some big ones in Memorial but haven't checked on them. Many of the pygmy dates that survived in the west and south loop have already nearly regenerated a full crown. 

There are pictures of the kings and foxtails on this website. The thread title is more palms in use around katy. 

[dmalysh]

1 hour ago, Jeff985 said:

There are pictures of the kings and foxtails on this website. The thread title is more palms in use around katy. 

 I can not find that topic. Can you copy/paste the link to it please?

[Jeff985]

24 minutes ago, dmalysh said:

 I can not find that topic. Can you copy/paste the link to it please?

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/13972-more-palms-in-use-around-katy/&tab=comments#comment-237555

 

[Jenni]

Did your palms survive?  I live in Marin County, CA and just planted 3 large (10ft) Mexican Fan palms a month ago.  I have clay soil and I think I'm watering them too much as they are starting to get yellow/brown fronds.  I'm worried they won't survive.  

[Slowmo]

My 7 foot new windmill palm is planted in a hole on the yard. S clay hole 2-3 inches around bigger than the root ball. It holds water. Mixed sand pea grave and pitting soil. I don’t think it’s gonna need much water. Wdyt