New to Queen Palms

[Ashley S]

Hi everyone! I just bought 3 queen palms. I'm in zone 9. My yard is very tough to dig in. There are thick underground privet roots in my yard. They are coming from my neighbor. I have been putting plants in pots due to this. So, my plan was to grow these in containers. However, I am worried they will topple over. I am using the palms to obstruct my 2nd story neighbor's view. I'd like to keep them medium range height. I have read about root pruning, removing some fronds etc. I also read that the palm will bust through the given pot. I've read a lot of different opinions. So, all the his to say. Help! I need guidance.

[Harry’s Palms]

Hello , and welcome . You are in a very warm , dry area of Southern California . They will need constant watering in containers and may suffer a bit of die back in the hottest months. I would use large , ceramic pots for weight and use a good soil with some sand mixed in for drainage . Make sure there are good drainage holes in the bottom of the pot and put a layer of pebbles in the bottom before putting the soil in . Concrete boxes , like seen in shopping centers would be great if you could find them . Use light colored pots so you don’t cook the roots in the summer. I’ve seen potted Queen Palms in pots that look good but I’ve also seen a lot that don’t . Mine are all in the ground so I have no experience with long term growing in pots. Harry

[Jim in Los Altos]

If I were doing what you’re doing, I’d get big pots and remove their bottoms. Place them on top of the ground and fill with soil and the palm’s root balls and the palms roots will be able to grow into the ground, anchoring them well so they are stable in the wind. Queen palms grow fairly fast when healthy so you’ll get some privacy for a few years but they will eventually grow tall. There’s no good way to curtail their growth without making them look sickly. 

[gyuseppe]

5 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

If I were doing what you’re doing, I’d get big pots and remove their bottoms. Place them on top of the ground and fill with soil and the palm’s root balls and the palms roots will be able to grow into the ground, anchoring them well so they are stable in the wind. Queen palms grow fairly fast when healthy so you’ll get some privacy for a few years but they will eventually grow tall. There’s no good way to curtail their growth without making them look sickly. 

yes !

 

[Ashley S]

12 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

If I were doing what you’re doing, I’d get big pots and remove their bottoms. Place them on top of the ground and fill with soil and the palm’s root balls and the palms roots will be able to grow into the ground, anchoring them well so they are stable in the wind. Queen palms grow fairly fast when healthy so you’ll get some privacy for a few years but they will eventually grow tall. There’s no good way to curtail their growth without making them look sickly. 

I love the open bottom idea. I was going to do this with my privet and totally forgot. I'm honestly overwhelmed!!

[Ashley S]

16 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Hello , and welcome . You are in a very warm , dry area of Southern California . They will need constant watering in containers and may suffer a bit of die back in the hottest months. I would use large , ceramic pots for weight and use a good soil with some sand mixed in for drainage . Make sure there are good drainage holes in the bottom of the pot and put a layer of pebbles in the bottom before putting the soil in . Concrete boxes , like seen in shopping centers would be great if you could find them . Use light colored pots so you don’t cook the roots in the summer. I’ve seen potted Queen Palms in pots that look good but I’ve also seen a lot that don’t . Mine are all in the ground so I have no experience with long term growing in pots. Harry

I'm so glad you mentioned light colored pots. That was not my plan. Yikes!! Definitely don't want to cook them. Now I'm realizing why one of my roses may not b doing as well as the others.

[Merlyn]

@Ashley S is there a reason you don't want to just plant them?  You'd need to cut through some privet roots, and I suppose there might be some risk to the health of the privets.  I don't know if they are sensitive to roots being cut or not.  Just planting them would avoid tippy issues with wind, and less issues with having to water them so much in the summer.  For sure you'd have to fertilize more, as the privets would compete with the palms for nutrition. 

Maybe big pots is better...maybe planting is better.   I'm not sure.  Here in swampy FL I would definitely plant them.  But digging a big hole here is easy and hurricanes are a yearly risk.

[Ashley S]

@Merlyn Cutting the roots is just very difficult. They are thick and running right through the yard.  😕

[Ashley S]

It's all overwhelming, trying to figure out what will tolerate the intense heat and sun. I have a thriving asparagus fern in these conditions. My research tells me they will not do well. When actually the same plant actually does terrible in partial sun.

[Robbertico18]

rent a sawzall or chainsaw?
that'll cut right through the roots