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Public Landscaping Questions


Scot from SC

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Hello all. I usually plant a few palms at public places each year in hopes of spreading the word about palm trees. I got permission today to plant in a couple of areas at the largest high school. One of the locations is sunny, the other one is shady and sometimes damp due to drainage. I wanted to get some input on palms and arrangements. I have ideas, but I always love input.

Both spots are at the front of the school headed to the football stadium. Literally thousands of people will walk or drive by these plantings, so I want to do a spectacular job.

Here is a seven gallon palmetto I donated and installed at a local elementary school a few weekends ago:

post-10668-0-88948300-1434077260_thumb.j

Now to the new sites at the high school.

Here is the sunny spot. It is probably ten feet wide before it starts sloping downward and maybe twenty feet deep:

post-10668-0-35574700-1434076283_thumb.j

I was thinking of a triangle planting, with a palmetto in the back and two minors in the front. Should I go with normal minors or maybe Hatteras minors? Would a Birmingham be better in the back? I only have access to a three gallon one. Palmettos do fine here, and a seven gallon in the ground at my house had no damage this past winter. The Birmingham would take forever to grow, but would never even get tip damage here.

Here is the other spot. It is shaded by a deciduous oak in warmer weather. It seems to be damp here, so I am thinking minors only. It is not soggy by any means though. Here are a few shots of the same area:

post-10668-0-30947500-1434076847_thumb.j

post-10668-0-05405200-1434076941_thumb.j

post-10668-0-51965200-1434076987_thumb.j

I am thinking minors along the wall here...maybe three feet away from it. It is about ten feet from the wall to the sidewalk.

Thank you for any input.

Edited by Scot from SC
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Awesome.. I commend you for that! I say do whatever you can.. I think Trachy would look great in the protected shaded area with winter sunshine... and the extra moisture will help. The sunny spot.. Palmetto all the way. I suppose it depends on what is readily available. My 2 cents

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Thanks for the kind words. I am trying my best to make my city a palm paradise...lol...one palm at a time. I thought about a trachy there in the shaded spot, and you recommending it makes me feel like it is a good idea. Maybe I could mix in some minors with it. Yeah, I think I am going to try a triangle in the sunny spot with a palmetto in back and two minors of some sort up front. Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my post.

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Looks great and nice job! How about some needle palms?

Lived in Cape Coral, Miami, Orlando and St. Petersburg Florida.

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I think the minors would be great and wouldn't outgrow the space. Personally, I like the blue stems but any would work.

SC has been the savior for many nurseries regionally here and they move a lot of cold hardy stuff into the State. I imagine most of it goes more toward the coast instead of your area though. I assumed cold hardy palms was all over the State. You're doing a great thing though!

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Thank you Palmaceae! Needles are a good idea. I think I will mix them up with minors in the area. I think I will plant them a little closer...maybe four feet from the wall. That way they have about six feet they can expand until they hit the edge of the sidewalk. Thank you again for the kind words and suggestion.

Hey Brantley! Thanks for the suggestion about the minors. I may go with a standard minor for the shady area, and I might use the Hatteras giants in the sunny area. I didn't realize northern and even central Florida sometimes got SC grown palms, but it makes sense. I heard it through another person that a guy came up here and bought a ton of Birminghams off a larger grower. But then again, parts of northern Florida can get pretty cold too. I sometimes forget you guys as a state range from 8b to 10b at least...I think the Keys are an 11?

Edited by Scot from SC
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Thank you Palmaceae! Needles are a good idea. I think I will mix them up with minors in the area. I think I will plant them a little closer...maybe four feet from the wall. That way they have about six feet they can expand until they hit the edge of the sidewalk. Thank you again for the kind words and suggestion.

Hey Brantley! Thanks for the suggestion about the minors. I may go with a standard minor for the shady area, and I might use the Hatteras giants in the sunny area. I didn't realize northern and even central Florida sometimes got SC grown palms, but it makes sense. I heard it through another person that a guy came up here and bought a ton of Birminghams off a larger grower. But then again, parts of northern Florida can get pretty cold too. I sometimes forget you guys as a state range from 8b to 10b at least...I think the Keys are an 11?

Yes I live in an 8b not 12 miles from the coast in the big bend area. Basically the coldest part of the Fl coastline!

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What a great idea and a good way to introduce palms and exotic to the kids and hopefully future gardeners.

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Hey Brantley, at least you are in Florida. I am only an 8a...lol.

Thanks for the kind words Palm Crazy. I hope that it does encourage and convert some kids...and adults...to our palm world.

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I would go with three Palmetto in the sunny location maybe throw in S. reopens silver if you can find some.. Needles, Minors and Palmetto in odd numbers in the shade. Remember, Palmetto's can handle shade fine and actually look better sometimes in a shadier position.....may grow a bit slower but may be protected more too.

Don't forget Butia sp.

Some exotic palms to try would be Nannorhops and T. campestris....both would need good drainage.....you already know all of this....just a reminder ....lol

David Simms zone 9a on Highway 30a

200 steps from the Gulf in NW Florida

30 ft. elevation and sandy soil

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  • 1 month later...

Well I am underway with my public plantings. I planted two sabal palmettos at a local elementary school. Here they are:

Here is the one that I planted first maybe two months ago at the flagpole at the front of the school:

post-10668-0-06708400-1437742494_thumb.j

The second palmetto is at an entrance to an outdoor classroom located at the side of the school:

post-10668-0-71606700-1437742664_thumb.j

post-10668-0-94240900-1437742721_thumb.j

This had to be one of the most difficult holes I have ever had the pleasure of digging. For some reason, there was about a six inch layer of concrete mix. I dug past it, of course, so the roots could push into the native clay.

post-10668-0-88573000-1437742893_thumb.j

post-10668-0-95469900-1437742926_thumb.j

The next location is the largest high school in town, Greenwood High School. I planted these sabal minors in front of the gym. Thousands of people will walk by these since it leads to the football stadium.

post-10668-0-23426700-1437743155_thumb.j

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I am going to add a palmetto at this school today. It will be planted even closer to the stadium. The minors closest to the gym's entrance are the Hatteras variety. The others are standard minors.

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Thanks for the suggestions David. I was wondering how a palmetto would do in that shady spot. I am afraid to go too exotic there. I want to make sure everything is bulletproof and looks good year round since so many people will be seeing them. I think I am sticking with minors, palmettos, needles, and windmills. I am going with a Fatsia in a year round shady spot too. I have several in my yard, and the one in total shade is huge and never loses its leaves.

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Great job Scot, I applaud your effort. I'd like to donate a T. Campestris and a few N. Arabica as long as you keep track of them and post updates on the forum.

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Thank you for the kind words and generous offer Dynodaddy! I am hesitant to take you up on the offer because I am afraid that those two palms might not thrive in our 8A zone. I would feel awful taking your palms and planting them at a public place here only to have them languish. I really do appreciate your kindness though.

I will post a few pictures of a few other plantings that I finished up this weekend at the school. I am going to try and contact someone today about maybe planting a couple at a local public park. Thanks to everyone following my post and for the encouraging words.

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Here is the Sabal palmetto that I planted at the high school. Here are the before and after pictures:post-10668-0-69044900-1438008302_thumb.j

post-10668-0-88315700-1438008394_thumb.j

Here is the school's memorial garden. Previously it had a bare corner that is heavily shaded:

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post-10668-0-87177800-1438008542_thumb.j

Thank you for looking. I am going to try and complete one more public job this season. I contacted someone at a recently opened public park. Stay tuned...

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Scot, looking at these pictures again, I think you've done an awesome job. Couldn't have done a better job and the placement of the palms is ideal. It would be great to revive this thread over the years to see how these palms take shape. Also, as far as the T. Campestris, I have 2 that I bought last year and they're in ground. They're suppose to be zone 8ish and would probably sustain some damage during our really bad winters, but would survive. Problem is, they're pretty slow growers. It's worth a shot though. I'm interested to see how mine do this coming winter, I don't plan on doing any extensive protection with them, if any at all.

As for the Arabica (blue form), it's a wuss and it wouldn't survive here. Dynodaddy, how do they do up your way? The Dallas area can't be much different weather wise from around here. Perhaps you have a different version of the N. Ritchiana?

Edited by smithgn
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That is a cool idea!

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Larry Shone in wet and sunny north-east England!  Zone9 ish

Tie two fish together and though they have two tails they cannot swim <>< ><>

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Whoo-hoo Scot!

You are the man!

A man after me' own heart, as the Irish like to say. (Supposedly, anyway.)

Buy yourself a drink! :)

(Another PalmTalker is a teacher at a high school here in Cali. I donated about a dozen palms last year, and they're mostly still there.)

Keep up your efforts! And, expand your horizons. (Why stop at schools? Maybe a post office or two? :winkie: )

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  • 2 months later...

I was able to visit scot and take a look at his high school project. This really shows his love and passion for palms. It was my fist time meeting up with someone who shares this love for palms as much as I do. He was generous to invite me to his house to tour his yard. His JXB is very healthy and it motivated me to start the hybrid at my place since we have the same climate and he's only a little more than an hour away east. 

Scot, I hope your palms do well this winter and will inspire some kids to love palms as much as you do. Oh and please keep us updated with your project. 

Younis

 

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Thank you Younis for the kind words. I appreciate it. I am always thrilled to meet another palm enthusiast in person. Since you visited my home, I added two more Sabal palmettos (they are about three to four feet tall) and two Sabal Birminghams (about two feet tall) in my front yard. I have more hybrids that I am going to plant next year.

I think you have planted some awesome palms at your home and business. Those cycads that you showed me are beautiful! I know that they will look great nestled in with your palms. Take care my friend.

Also, thank you Dave and Larry for the kind words. I just looked at this thread and noticed that I had not replied to your posts. My apologies gentlemen.

Edited by Scot from SC
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  • 3 years later...
25 minutes ago, RJ said:

So Scot, how are all these palms doing? 

 

Great work BTW! :greenthumb:

A 4 year update would be really cool to see B)

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T J 

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Scot hasn't logged on the forum since Jan so might be a minute before he replies. I'd like to see some update pics also.

Great to see others have been doing plantings on public property!  I'm almost finished with my current one which is also at a big high school here.  And funny to see DoomsDave suggested a post office since that's probably my next big project I expect to start in the fall. I should probably start a thread on my projects.

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4 hours ago, NOT A TA said:

Scot hasn't logged on the forum since Jan so might be a minute before he replies. I'd like to see some update pics also.

Great to see others have been doing plantings on public property!  I'm almost finished with my current one which is also at a big high school here.  And funny to see DoomsDave suggested a post office since that's probably my next big project I expect to start in the fall. I should probably start a thread on my projects.

Ah you're right didn't even notice. :unsure: Good catch. 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hello everyone. I am sorry that I have not checked in lately! It actually has been more than lately...more like months! Like most of you in the United States, I have been taking advantage of the summer as far as plantings are concerned. I will definitely take some updated photographs in the next week and post them here. Thank you all for your interest and patience. I hope everyone is doing well.

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57 minutes ago, Scot from SC said:

Hello everyone. I am sorry that I have not checked in lately! It actually has been more than lately...more like months! Like most of you in the United States, I have been taking advantage of the summer as far as plantings are concerned. I will definitely take some updated photographs in the next week and post them here. Thank you all for your interest and patience. I hope everyone is doing well.

Great to see you back, glad all is well. Definitely looking forward to some progress pics and maybe some news on other projects you have accomplished. Your doing wonderful work for your community!! 

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T J 

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I'll chime in and say nice work!  Everything looks like it was placed / planned out perfectly and it will look fantastic in a few years. 

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Thanks Steve.

 I went by the high school today and took some pictures. I will upload them in different posts, but here is the Fatsia and Sabal minors that I planted in our school's memorial/remembrance site.

The first picture is from almost exactly four years ago (July 2015) when I planted them:

post-10668-0-87177800-1438008542_thumb.jpg.c41fac99f8f7331e3eb02c3cbffda250.jpg

Here are the same plants today (27 July 2019):

IMG_20190727_152751227.thumb.jpg.ad00d2a33ec875ec9e56c8b6129379b8.jpg

As you can see, what a difference four years makes! The minors have been producing seeds for a couple of years, and I noticed some seedlings nearby. 

I will post more pictures soon. Thank you for looking.

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  • 4 weeks later...

I had an opportunity yesterday to drive to the elementary school where I had planted the two palmettos. I will list an original picture and an updated one(s) for both.

Here is a first day planted photograph of the one I planted near the teacher's parking lot:

1366986550_post-10668-0-94240900-1437742721_thumb(1).jpg.477f01a58b68f942d6e7f835f2fb08ed.jpg

Here is an updated photograph:

IMG_20190823_193620870.thumb.jpg.8075afd9f1cc54acfb4671b401eb2f33.jpg

As you can tell, it has grown substantially considering the first year or two it was probably putting a lot of energy into the root system. I will make another post with the flagpole palmetto shortly. Thank you for looking.

 

 

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