Hey Guys, I just ordered a few Windmill and Needle Palm trees from TyTy to plany by my pool. I live in Newfoundland, NJ and read up a lot on these palms before buying. One thing that struck me odd when I spoke to their sales rep they said they do not recommend to protect the tree at all once they are 3 feet or larger. I bought a couple that are 4 to 5 feet so now I am not sure if I should protect them in winter, I do some people online protecting even much bigger speciemen. They said in all the years only one time they had to replace a tree that size and it was due to -40 degree weather in Idaho. Also they suggested not to use any fertilizer after planting. Do you guys have any input to this? I would love to talk about the plants you have for sale elman, was thinking to plant some musa basjoo as well.

I have two Rhapidophyllum Hystrix and a Sabal Minor McCurtain thriving in Long Branch, NJ just a block and one half off the beach. One needle palm is almost six foot tall. The needle palms are in a small alcove and the McCurtain is out in the open. The latter survived a six foot snow drift on top it during its second winter. None of the Palms have ever been protected by blankets or mulch. All three have a Southern Exposure. There is a large hedge to the west of the McCurtain protecting it from Northwest winds. They were all planted in Spring. The former in 1999 and the latter in 2002. All of my specimens came from Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC. They have a lot of experience dealing with cold hardy palms. www.plantdelights.com. The fact they were raised in the middle of North Carolina and not in Florida has a lot to say about their cold hardiness. This year, I hope to plant Trachycarpus Takil (Wagner variety) and the Tennessee Form. Also Sabal Minor Louisiana. They are currently wintering in a cold frame since I got them too late last year to plant them in the ground. Planting in the fall would be a disaster. In the late 70's through to about 1987 I had Needle Palm growing in Hopewell Township NJ near Pennington (north of Trenton). They laughed at temperatures below minus five. They were on the south side of the house. I saw the pictures of the Palms growing in Willingboro. Why are they so close to the wall? These things get big, hopefully, and they can possibly and regrettably damage the wall. The power of trees growing is enormous. They can crack sidewalks and damage the foundations of houses.

OPPALM, that is very interesting what the hotel manager told you: Specifically, that the fire department considered heating the palms in the enclosure as a fire hazard. I realize you probably don't know enough of the details of what their precise objections were, but I think that is a serious statement by the fire department. Because, I suppose the implication is that what a lot of us on this forum are doing to preserve our plants over the winter might be considered a fire hazard by the Des Moines Fire Department's standards. And if those standards are reasonable and applicable, I'd like to know more about this, because while I like growing a palm tree in Minnesota, I don't want to risk my and/or my neighbors property in the process. Perhaps the hotel was considering some kind of heavy duty heaters, and that is what the fire department objected to? (But if that were the case, why not try wrapping them with lights underneath?) dln949

HaHaHa Yea i know what you mean... im use to it tho trust me. I transplanted 3 20' of trunk trachycarpus fortunei and they were at least 2,000 also. i have a lot of friends and were young... played football n stuff so its hard dont get me wrong but many stong hands make light work... ;) and if anything ill rent a heavyduty bobcat and do the job. but there not close to as heavy as the trunks on my 60' pines and birch trees ive been cutting down for the last week. and i have to some how move at least 20-25' pine logs at least 2 1/2' - 3' thick to build my palapa...they probally weigh around 3-4,000 lbs. thanks for the advise tho im ready and determined tho lol. it will be a lot of work but im ready and its much needed work.thanks again- Justin