Redirecting a palm tree

[Jayme J]

Hi y’all… long time lurker, first time poster.  I have a question about a couple of Christmas palms (adonidia Merrillii) I have by my pool.  They were here when I moved in.  There’s a volunteer (pup/runner/seedling, I’m not sure) next to the main one.  I don’t want to remove it but it’s growing a bit close to the main tree for my liking.  Maybe 8 inches at most.  Is there a way to form a slight curve in the trunk if the smaller one to separate them just a touch?  Pic for reference. 

[happypalms]

3 minutes ago, Jayme J said:

Hi y’all… long time lurker, first time poster.  I have a question about a couple of Christmas palms (adonidia Merrillii) I have by my pool.  They were here when I moved in.  There’s a volunteer (pup/runner/seedling, I’m not sure) next to the main one.  I don’t want to remove it but it’s growing a bit close to the main tree for my liking.  Maybe 8 inches at most.  Is there a way to form a slight curve in the trunk if the smaller one to separate them just a touch?  Pic for reference. 

Welcome to the world of palms. You’re volunteer or somewhat rather large seedling can have a rope tied around the crownshaft, and with a stake or peg driven into the ground you can simply tie it off and sort of begin to pull it over, almost getting it to fall over or a slight movement over time weekly by tightening the rope. A winch would be better to pull the palm separate from the other one. And over time it will regrow with a curved look away from the other palm. It happens naturally to a lot of palms that fall over especially ones in creek beds with floods where palms are growing. You will get a nice tropical looking palm with a curved trunk. 

[tim_brissy_13]

The smaller palm is a separate plant. Adonidia are solitary and I suspect the smaller one is too large to have come from seed of the larger one. It should remain a double unless they start to set seed and sprout below these two.
 

 I’d recommend strapping below the crownshaft on the solid woody trunk if you plan to pull it away a bit. I’ve used a stand with ratchet straps before with success to move trunks away from underneath eaves. Just go very slowly one ratchet at a time. 
 

With all that being said, I think they look pretty good as they are. Over time, the crowns will naturally push away from each other a little anyway to reach for more light. Personally I’d leave them. 

[peachy]

I have 2 of these in the ground, planted 3 years ago and they have barely moved since. I would be grateful to have just one that looks like your two. Just leave them alone, they usually bend away from each other eventually.

Peachy

[Jayme J]

6 hours ago, peachy said:

I have 2 of these in the ground, planted 3 years ago and they have barely moved since. I would be grateful to have just one that looks like your two. Just leave them alone, they usually bend away from each other eventually.

Peachy

This was the same rep just 4 years ago

[tim_brissy_13]

8 hours ago, Jayme J said:

This was the same rep just 4 years ago

That’s some really good healthy growth over 4 years. They look great now and I’d leave them.