Goodbye, Sabal Row: End of an era in Cape Coral, FL

[PalmatierMeg]

When I planted a dozen or so strap leaf Sabal seedlings just over the property line of the vacant lot next door in 2008/09 to eventually block view of the abandoned house two lots east, I knew this day would come. Sabal Row was never ours but we hoped whoever developed the property would consider sparing at least some of the palms that formed a wind block that saved our house from damage in Hurricanes Irma and Ian: Sabals maritima x6, palmetto x 4, domingensis x1, and causiarum x1. Our Sabal causiarum may be the only but certainly the largest in Cape Coral. It is my husband's favorite palm and the one we hoped we could convince the builder to spare.

But that was not to be. Last weekend the project manager knocked on our door with the ultimatum: all the Sabals had to go. We could try to save them or we could watch them be hacked down and turned into mulch. Still, there is some good news along with the bad. We immediately called PTers Corey and Shelby of Premier Growers on Pine Island to the rescue. Over the years we had discussed with them the growing threat to Sabal Row and the causiarum in particular and they expressed interest in taking in at least some of the Sabals. Turns out that meant even the palmettos. There aren't many/any large trunked, mature Sabals in Cape Coral-Ft. Myers but a niche market of people with property and means to take large Sabals. Corey originally planned to keep only the causiarum and domingensis but later was pondering keeping the others too. So, perhaps Sabal Row will rise again on Pine Island.

I took a lot of photos that present the process of trenching and removing very large Sabals -  a tutorial for anyone facing the task we did. You will notice that each palm has no rootball. Sabal roots die when cut. The palms must grow new root systems. All leaves must be removed, including the top half of the spear, to reduce transpiration. The bases are wrapped in plastic and the palms placed in a protected area then sprinkled frequently to keep them hydrated. Recall also that Sabal trunks must be wetted down as they also absorb water. So, if you plant a trunking Sabal plan to water the trunk as well as the ground around it.

So, let's dig up some Sabals

First, an aggregation of equipment needed

Final Views of Sabal Row

Sabal maritima (Left) and Sabal domingensis (Right)

Sabal maritima crowns x2

From the south - Sabal maritima x2 (rear) and Sabal causiarum (right)

hh

From the west - Sabal maritima x2

Sapal maritima (Left) and Sabal domingensis (Right)

Sabal Row canopy from below

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

What a bitter sweet post smh. This will definitely be one of the biggest procrastination on my part not seeing the world famous Sabal Row in person. So glad to hear Premier has spared it ! Long live Sabal Row ! 

T J 

[sonoranfans]

I hate to see this happen, those sabals just look so natural there and undoubtedly offer wind protection and protection from soil erosion.   Glad to hear some are finding a new home in the area.  

[PalmatierMeg]

Some photos showing some of the steps in digging up large Sabals. Corey spent most of this past week removing the "smaller" palms but left the Sabal causiarum until last. It's so large that the other species just got in the way.

Corey "tags" a Sabal palmetto

Corey running digger. He started by removing most of the dirt around each palm. Later he continued by hand trenching around each trunk about 3-4' deep, then chops off the roots with a steel shovel.

Corey and his helper trenching around Sabals

[PalmatierMeg]

Finally, yesterday was Sabal causiarum's time to go. It was a behemoth and I worried it might overwhelm Corey's equipment. I shouldn't have.

Final photos of Sabal causiarum in situ

Sabal causiarum all alone

Trenching around causiarum

Corey used the digger to push the causiarum over onto a pillow of fill dirt and palm fronds. Then he used a steel shovel to cut off remaining roots.

Once the causiarum was trimmed it had to be loaded for its trip to its new home.

Good travels and fare thee well, Sabals. A well deserved ending for what could have been a travesty

If you visit Corey and Shelby at their nursery on Pine Island take a moment to visit old friends

[kinzyjr]

A tear drop for the Sabals leaving, but they're in good hands with @Cbigler and @PalmMom007.

[D. Morrowii]

Wow that causiarum is a monster! Glad to hear it’s not going to waste. 

[AlligatorDave]

Funn how everyone is freaked out by the rising CO2 in our atmosphere but none of them plant trees, quite the opposite, they buy a property and 1st on the list, cut down all the trees

[AlligatorDave]

Congrats to Corey, Shelby and Meg for their efforts to save these trees!

[Kim]

Sorry you have to see them go, but at least they are being removed and will be replanted. Great photos of a tremendous amount of work. You did a fantastic job of growing them up.

 

[Johnny Palmseed]

1 hour ago, AlligatorDave said:

Funn how everyone is freaked out by the rising CO2 in our atmosphere but none of them plant trees, quite the opposite, they buy a property and 1st on the list, cut down all the trees

True but it is incredibly difficult to build on a lot with trees vs an empty lot. We are looking for a new place now and one lot we found has an oak tree that is required to stay but is nearly in the middle of the lot. It really complicates things and limits the house we could build. The other concern I have is that the tree will possibly just die anyway after the build.

[Harry’s Palms]

That is quite the process to save those Sabal . I’m glad someone cares enough. Harry

[SeanK]

3 hours ago, AlligatorDave said:

Funn how everyone is freaked out by the rising CO2 in our atmosphere but none of them plant trees, quite the opposite, they buy a property and 1st on the list, cut down all the trees

Quite right. First thing should be, "How many trees should stay?" Given that it takes 20 years for a seedling to be useful, trees should planned at the front end.

[AlligatorDave]

I’ve been to that property, there’s not one tree or bush on the entire property except for the Sabals on west side along the property line to Meg’s place. . The sabals were “the only plants on the property” except for grass. And the owners just had to have them removed. But when they make a plane reservation online, they’re looking for which flight makes the least CO2, Go figure. Might be smart to restrict new building permits to property that has trees already, or require x amount of trees installed as part of the permit requirement. 

[Cbigler]

So cool to see the photos. Didn’t actually know this post existed but did see Meg take pictures from time to time. All the sabals are still alive and well although not back in the ground yet. This was a project that was not really on my radar but couldn’t watch them go in a dumpster. Still not 100% on where they will go next but I do have a few ideas when I get time.