How to move Brahea armata?

[stingray]

I need to move a Brahea armata, it's been in the ground for 10+ years. It isn't huge with only about 18" of trunk so it would be manageable with a few people.  I hear these are finicky and I don't want to lose it.  Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. 

[Umbrae]

if you have time , root prune it for a couple months 

[Palmfarmer]

1 hour ago, Umbrae said:

if you have time , root prune it for a couple months 

What if it is a really small one and you dig so far out that the rootball pretty much dont get touched. possible?

[sonoranfans]

a slow root prune may be needed to save the palm.  This palm is not an easy one to transplant and 10 years in the ground is lots of time to grow roots.   

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

You will have to root prune. Dig 1/3rd around it. Wait a month. Dig another 1/3rd. Wait a month then get it out of the ground. Anything less will severely lower your odds of transplantation. 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Better idea is to just leave it there to grow and go buy another one.

[Umbrae]

On 7/5/2020 at 8:51 PM, Palmfarmer said:

What if it is a really small one and you dig so far out that the rootball pretty much dont get touched. possible?

will the trunk support lifting that big of a root ball , if memory serves me right brahea roots bleed when they are cut 

[sonoranfans]

yes the armata will bleed from the roots so a slow prune is the best choice.  I have transplanted a small armata(15 gallon size) that had only been in the ground for 6 months, no problem.  But as roots become extensive over time, many roots will need to be cut and this is best done by root pruning small areas at a time over several months.   If the palm has been in the ground for 10 years it has LOTS of roots that will need to be cut.