Coconut too close to utilities?

[Yunder Wækraus]

3 years ago I planted a small coconut next to my driveway. I had few choices in location because our lot is so small. I found a pocket without piper or wires, but it was still  too close the pipes and meters, etc. How much time do I have before it damages the adjacent utilities?

[Merlyn]

My gut feel is that it will never damage the visible parts, and probably won't mess with the pipes if they are going parallel to the driveway.  The roots will spread out and get wrapped in and around the pipes, and might mess with any wiring that's in the area.  The roots don't expand like oak or pine roots, so they don't get in there and then grow and rip stuff up.  I doubt the trunk would get big enough to cause problems.

[happypalms]

It should be fine where it is I have seen golden cane palms crack a pool with there roots if you look at large transplanted palm they just have a root ball so long as there is not lots of water near the utilities all will be good 

[flplantguy]

I agree with the others, we recommend palms in smaller spaces for this reason.  A root barrier between them can help if you are concerned about the roots tangling the wires but I don't think you need to.

[GottmitAlex]

No problemo!

[Yunder Wækraus]

Man, I’m so happy to hear so many positive responses! I felt so guilty about the possibility that I might have to kill it down the road. It had horrible root wrap when I bought it, and just to get it out of the canvas sack in which it had languished required mutilating its roots. When it recovered, I was so happy, but I then started to fret about its long-term chances.  This is great news for me and my tree

[happypalms]

4 hours ago, Yunder Wækraus said:

Man, I’m so happy to hear so many positive responses! I felt so guilty about the possibility that I might have to kill it down the road. It had horrible root wrap when I bought it, and just to get it out of the canvas sack in which it had languished required mutilating its roots. When it recovered, I was so happy, but I then started to fret about its long-term chances.  This is great news for me and my tree

Ok now you have relaxed about your palm being to close I shall give you something to worry about now coconuts falling on your car as you reverse out of your driveway 😁

[Yunder Wækraus]

6 hours ago, happypalms said:

Ok now you have relaxed about your palm being to close I shall give you something to worry about now coconuts falling on your car as you reverse out of your driveway 😁

lol--yeah, I'll worry about that happy day when it comes