Sabal Growth

[PalmatierMeg]

Your Sabals shouldn't require any protection while temps stay above 20F.

[ZPalms]

10 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Your Sabals shouldn't require any protection while temps stay above 20F.

Oh I didn't know, I'm so cautious and scared

[ZPalms]

lol me deciding to giving my sabal overhead protection and some christmas lights because I lack trust in my sabal, I think after I know it's been in the ground for 1 year then I'll feel more comfortable but it's only been 7 months.

Also does anyone know if your suppose to cover the growing point with mulch or leave it clear of debris cause I covered the ground around the sabal but I never covered the direct middle of it??

[Swolte]

I'd avoid mulch in the crown for long periods just to prevent fungal disease. If you're worried (which, again, you shouldn't...), just get a some cheap frost cloth at the big box store and cover the palms before a hard freeze.

[Joe NC]

On 11/24/2021 at 10:28 PM, ZPalms said:

lol me deciding to giving my sabal overhead protection and some christmas lights because I lack trust in my sabal, I think after I know it's been in the ground for 1 year then I'll feel more comfortable but it's only been 7 months.

Also does anyone know if your suppose to cover the growing point with mulch or leave it clear of debris cause I covered the ground around the sabal but I never covered the direct middle of it??

Unless you use a thermo-cube or some sort of thermostat, don't add lights as a heat source if you are wrapping or covering the palm.  it will get cooked, and you will have loved your poor palm to death.  I have done this....

If you are really worried about the winter, and have to do something to protect it, get a cheap Styrofoam cooler (gas station style)  When you think they need protection, just pull back the mulch (so bare ground is exposed) and then cover the palm with the cooler.  Push the mulch back around the cooler to make a "seal" and put a brick on top.

This will keep the palm surprisingly warm overnight.  I know because I've put a temp sensor under the same set up.  If we get some crazy polar event, and the ground actually freezes, then I don't know how helpful this will be.  However,  it can keep the temp above freezing under cooler even with temps in the teens overnight just by trapping the heat from the ground.  

[ZPalms]

1 hour ago, Joe NC said:

Unless you use a thermo-cube or some sort of thermostat, don't add lights as a heat source if you are wrapping or covering the palm.  it will get cooked, and you will have loved your poor palm to death.  I have done this....

If you are really worried about the winter, and have to do something to protect it, get a cheap Styrofoam cooler (gas station style)  When you think they need protection, just pull back the mulch (so bare ground is exposed) and then cover the palm with the cooler.  Push the mulch back around the cooler to make a "seal" and put a brick on top.

This will keep the palm surprisingly warm overnight.  I know because I've put a temp sensor under the same set up.  If we get some crazy polar event, and the ground actually freezes, then I don't know how helpful this will be.  However,  it can keep the temp above freezing under cooler even with temps in the teens overnight just by trapping the heat from the ground.  

Oh I just put a towel over it the first night, Now I just put lights around it no cover to keep the area lit up and warmer so frost isn't horrible but one of the nights I put plastic over the cage fence so it gave it overhead protection and kept the frost off and turned the lights on and it stayed cool but warm on the inside and no frost. Ill definitely remember though about the cooler thing cause that sounds pretty quick and easy to get!!

Do you know if your suppose to cover the center growth with mulch or not?

[Keys6505]

1 hour ago, ZPalms said:

Do you know if your suppose to cover the center growth with mulch or not?

 

On 11/24/2021 at 9:55 PM, Swolte said:

I'd avoid mulch in the crown for long periods just to prevent fungal disease.

 

[ZPalms]

2 minutes ago, Keys6505 said:

 

 

Oh perfect thanks! I did it correctly then thanks!

[ZPalms]

My temporary nightly protection only when their frost, I take it off first thing once the morning sun touches it! photos look like I live in a void 

Edited November 30, 2021 by ZPalms

[ZPalms]

Two of the Sabal Causiarums I have are actually pushing new growth finally after the long transplant shock and I'm so happy for them!! I was starting to worry cause they had no activity of growth at all but it's good to see the new leaves and the roots have settled all the way through and are growing out the bottom and I can't wait to get them in the ground this spring! 

Edited December 10, 2021 by ZPalms

[BobStrauss]

I took a very similar approach to you, ZPalms, in using a wrapped tomato cage and Christmas lights, only mine for a pachypodium lamerei. Hoping I never have to do the same for my sabal palmetto, but I'm 8A just like you.   

[ZPalms]

On 12/17/2021 at 7:11 PM, BobStrauss said:

I took a very similar approach to you, ZPalms, in using a wrapped tomato cage and Christmas lights, only mine for a pachypodium lamerei. Hoping I never have to do the same for my sabal palmetto, but I'm 8A just like you.   

Oh wow I missed this, I used the cage and plastic only for this year to let my sabal keep developing without winter weather stress but at the end of winter I let it stay uncovered to take those last weeks of frost, so this year I'll definitely be leaving it uncovered unless we get freezing rain or something wild!

Your backyard looks very nice 

[ZPalms]

Does anyone know how much palmgain i'm suppose to feed my sabal? The directions on the back are kind of confusing when it says 2-3 inches does that mean in trunk or leaf span?

[ZPalms]

Anyone know how much palmgain to give to sabal at this size?

[Allen]

10 minutes ago, ZPalms said:

Anyone know how much palmgain to give to sabal at this size?

Probably be safe and put about 2 tablespoons 1" or more from plant in a circle to about 6" out.  Hand agitate into soil and water.  Make sure no tip burn happens over next few weeks and you might can up it in 6 weeks to 3-4. 

Edited April 26, 2022 by Allen

[ZPalms]

4 minutes ago, Allen said:

Probably be safe and put about 2 tablespoons 1" or more from plant in a circle to about 6" out.  Hand agitate into soil and water.  Make sure no tip burn happens over next few weeks and you might can up it in 6 weeks to 3-4. 

Thanks! 

[ZPalms]

Is there any way to improve drainage in existing beds? When I planted my sabal I didn't really have any idea about drainage and I put it in poor soil with bad drainage, I’m not bothered that it drains slowly since I know the palmetto doesn’t care to sit in water for a couple minutes, but the water isn’t quick enough for me to water it deeply, so I have to do it intermittently and I'm not entirely sure how much of this water is actually getting down to where it needs to be, but every time I water it the water pools on top and wants to run away if I didn’t have the stones there.

 

I have no idea how to use soaker hoses but since the water pools so quickly, it doesn’t really do me any justice since there's too much hose and I didn’t see any better options at Lowe’s. I’m sure if the drip hose or soaker hose was shorter, then it wouldn’t fill up as fast.

It’s also forming its first 3 finger palmate leaf in the middle 

Edited May 20, 2022 by ZPalms

[Allen]

2 hours ago, ZPalms said:

Is there any way to improve drainage in existing beds? When I planted my sabal I didn't really have any idea about drainage and I put it in poor soil with bad drainage, I’m not bothered that it drains slowly since I know the palmetto doesn’t care to sit in water for a couple minutes, but the water isn’t quick enough for me to water it deeply, so I have to do it intermittently and I'm not entirely sure how much of this water is actually getting down to where it needs to be, but every time I water it the water pools on top and wants to run away if I didn’t have the stones there.

 

I have no idea how to use soaker hoses but since the water pools so quickly, it doesn’t really do me any justice since there's too much hose and I didn’t see any better options at Lowe’s. I’m sure if the drip hose or soaker hose was shorter, then it wouldn’t fill up as fast.

It’s also forming its first 3 finger palmate leaf in the middle 

 

Whoa there!  You have too much soaker hose in there and it's really living up to it's name.  Try something simple like just running the regular hose at a very slow run for 10-15 minutes or put in a drip system.  That soaker hose will water something over it's entire length. 

[ZPalms]

5 hours ago, Allen said:

Whoa there!  You have too much soaker hose in there and it's really living up to it's name.  Try something simple like just running the regular hose at a very slow run for 10-15 minutes or put in a drip system.  That soaker hose will water something over it's entire length. 

Ive been wanting to figure out a permemnant watering system for my sabal but I just don't know how to set up drip lines and stuff, I'll try to run a hose slower to it. Thanks 

[ZPalms]

I was in Chapel Hill, NC and was lucky enough to find sabal minor with seeds on it. So I took a couple and there are still tons on the stalk that are freshly ripe if anyone is out in that area and wants some, assuming the grounds keepers haven't snipped them. They are at 5310 McFarland Dr, Durham, NC 27707. You can go on Google Maps to see the location. They are right in front of that hotel. I sadly didn't get any pictures.

I'm pretty excited to sprout Sabal minor as it was underrated to me since I usually gravitate towards trunking palms until I saw what they could look like if used in a flowerbeds, so I'm excited to give them a try. 

Edited May 28, 2022 by ZPalms

[ZPalms]

I finally put fertilizer in but I worry the ground doesn't drain good enough for it, I can see that when I dig a little and I did end up disturbing some small roots near the surface that it's getting wet below but it drains so slow I worry that the fertilizer will burn the palm in general because it's sitting in that water

[teddytn]

9 minutes ago, ZPalms said:

I finally put fertilizer in but I worry the ground doesn't drain good enough for it, I can see that when I dig a little and I did end up disturbing some small roots near the surface that it's getting wet below but it drains so slow I worry that the fertilizer will burn the palm in general because it's sitting in that water

I don’t think it’s possible to overwater a Sabal…yours has been in the ground for a year now right? Should love the fertilizer too, sabals are tough, hard to hurt them lol

[ZPalms]

2 minutes ago, teddytn said:

I don’t think it’s possible to overwater a Sabal…yours has been in the ground for a year now right? Should love the fertilizer too, sabals are tough, hard to hurt them lol

I'm just afraid of fertilizer burn from the water submerging it, It has been in the ground for a year now but I usally always drown it in water when I water it because it drains terribly but the fertilizer is my concern for burn

Edited June 30, 2022 by ZPalms

[teddytn]

3 minutes ago, ZPalms said:

I'm just afraid of fertilizer burn from the water submerging it, It has been in the ground for a year now but I usally always drown it in water when I water it because it drains terribly but the fertilizer is my concern for burn

I hear ya, we all baby and worry about our palms lol. You put like a normal amount of fertilizer though yeah?

[ZPalms]

2 minutes ago, teddytn said:

I hear ya, we all baby and worry about our palms lol. You put like a normal amount of fertilizer though yeah?

I put 2 tablespoons and rubbed it into the ground the best I could 6inches away give or take whatever may have spread closer but I'm sure that wouldn't matter

Edited June 30, 2022 by ZPalms

[teddytn]

10 minutes ago, ZPalms said:

I put 2 tablespoons and rubbed it into the ground the best I could 6inches away give or take whatever may have spread closer but I'm sure that wouldn't matter

Seems like you did perfect 

[ZPalms]

42 minutes ago, teddytn said:

Seems like you did perfect 

I hope so, I'm sure the drainage will improve over time when the roots really get vigrous and I keep adding stuff in it, just hoping no burning 

[ZPalms]

Just some new photos

[JLM]

On 8/29/2022 at 6:00 PM, ZPalms said:

Just some new photos

Update please!

[ZPalms]

On 5/1/2023 at 9:08 AM, JLM said:

Update please!

Just took these today! It's been growing steady and should speed up once the summer heat hits 😍

[WSimpson]

On 5/20/2022 at 4:01 PM, ZPalms said:

Is there any way to improve drainage in existing beds? When I planted my sabal I didn't really have any idea about drainage and I put it in poor soil with bad drainage, I’m not bothered that it drains slowly since I know the palmetto doesn’t care to sit in water for a couple minutes, but the water isn’t quick enough for me to water it deeply, so I have to do it intermittently and I'm not entirely sure how much of this water is actually getting down to where it needs to be, but every time I water it the water pools on top and wants to run away if I didn’t have the stones there.

 

I have no idea how to use soaker hoses but since the water pools so quickly, it doesn’t really do me any justice since there's too much hose and I didn’t see any better options at Lowe’s. I’m sure if the drip hose or soaker hose was shorter, then it wouldn’t fill up as fast.

It’s also forming its first 3 finger palmate leaf in the middle 

 

 

I had a problem with drainage until I broke through a layer of clay . After I broke through it drained beautifully . I planted a Sabal palmetto here .

Maybe you can break through that bad clay ? 

Before :

After digging deeper ( and that water stayed without draining for days  before I dug deeper ) . I planted a Sabal palmetto in the hole .

 

 :

Edited May 13, 2023 by Will Simpson

[ZPalms]

Just now, Will Simpson said:

 

 

I had a problem with drainage until I broke through a layer of clay . After I broke through it drained beautifully . I planted a Sabal palmetto here .

Maybe you can break through that bad clay ? 

Before :

After digging deeper ( and that water stayed without draining for days  before I dug deeper ) . I planted a Sabal palmetto in the hole .

 

 :

I'll give this a try when I plant my sabal causiarum because I think my palmetto has grown so much underground that it has improved the surrounding area itself than when I first planted it so this will be a good tip when I go and plant the others thanks!

[Swolte]

On 5/13/2023 at 7:57 AM, Will Simpson said:

 

 

I had a problem with drainage until I broke through a layer of clay . After I broke through it drained beautifully . I planted a Sabal palmetto here .

Maybe you can break through that bad clay ? 

Before :

After digging deeper ( and that water stayed without draining for days  before I dug deeper ) . I planted a Sabal palmetto in the hole .

 

 :

Dang, how big was the layer you dug through!? What tools did you use? I had a 72 inch steep digging bar and that stuff was so hard here, it took me hours to just get a square foot of that stuff!
 

[JLM]

4 hours ago, Swolte said:

Dang, how big was the layer you dug through!? What tools did you use? I had a 72 inch steep digging bar and that stuff was so hard here, it took me hours to just get a square foot of that stuff!
 

Absolutely flood it before trying to dig. Make it muddy. It might be a little more messy, but even for clay it should be easier to dig through. If it was already wet, yikes.

[ZPalms]

It's been a while since the last picture but its coming along

[ZPalms]

How things have changed from when I planted it to now—it's moving along so quickly! 🤠

[Leelanau Palms]

Looks great! Good work. Keep updates coming over time.

[teddytn]

4 hours ago, ZPalms said:

How things have changed from when I planted it to now—it's moving along so quickly! 🤠

It will have a big growth spurt this coming season for sure. 

[ZPalms]

22 minutes ago, teddytn said:

It will have a big growth spurt this coming season for sure. 

I can feel it too, It finally made it to the leap part in sleeps, creeps and leaps 😍

Edited January 7 by ZPalms

[Leelanau Palms]

Sorry if this was already mentioned. What type of Sabal is this?