Wind Damage

[Scott]

Hi,

didn't know if I should put this under problems or weather, but here it goes.

After a week of very high winds, the last three days 70+ MPH on my palms, some of my fav's are very weak. They're wobbely to the touch. They're staked, but very stressed.

What really worries me is that I've got along way to go until spring.

I'm pretty discouraged. Even one of my Washies has shredded fronds. Plus everything has blown down from the hill into the yard and it's full of debris. It seems like the winter could be a losing battle.

Provided the palms don't get broken at the base, and some might be a little wobbely, will they strengthen again? Or will they be forever weak? I should note these are pretty young ones- about 3 - 4 years. My CIPD which I thought was mighty ain't so might now.

Amazingly Bizzie's doing great, protected by bamboo on each side. And the newly planted Rivularis held up pretty well. But alot of other stuff .... ugh!

[Randyp]

Scott

Sorry to hear your palms took a beating. I was hit hard here too in Riverside but all mine are container still so I was able to move them to a safe place.

It was kind of discouraging to realize that so many of the beautiful palms I read about on this site will never really make it at my place without some serious windbreaks. This latest storm made me realize that with my location I will be very limited to what I can actually put in the ground.

Sorry that I can't offer any advice concerning your wounded but I feel for you and hope they are able to come back.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger !!!

Randy

[Kathy]

Scott, I assume they're staked on both sides?

[Scott]

Randy - yeah it is discouraging. It's funny I can leave work and it's beautiful there. Then I get within three miles of the house and it high wind conditions.

Kathy - I hate to say it, but they were staked on the side from which the wind comes. So they were staked one sided. So now they are getting double staked......  they don't have an emoticon for this feeling......

[Patrick]

I would figure they'll streingthen themselves. I have a Brahea edulis that did the same thing last winter & now it's stronger than ever.

[Scott]

Patrick, that's good to hear. I'm hoping after a season of growth, they'll be stronger - and staked on two side for next winter!

[ZoneTenNut]

Scott,

Sorry to hear about the wind damage to your palms and everyone else out there. I happened to be out there that week and man, those were absolutely strong and cold winds. I'm in the greater West Palm Beach area and we've been through 3 hurricanes in the last few years, with each one literally shredding landscapes. I had many palms that were wobbly like you described and some, like my triangle palm, were flat on the ground. I had no idea if any of these would survive, but uprighted them, staked and tied them down, then watered religiously. All these hurricanes hit us late Sept. or Oct., so we were right at the beginning of winter, so I also was concerned about them being dormant and not able to recover adequately. I used root stimulator on them 3 or 4 times through the winter to speed along root growth and get them anchored again. This worked great and I would estimate 98% recovered. What is even more amazing, some, like my triangle, went down flat in each of the three hurricanes, was set back upright each time, and survived. Not only did it survive, this year with no hurricane, it flowered for the first time and is solid as a rock in the ground once again. This was a sizable palm with about six feet of wood and as big around as a telephone pole. Took 3 of us to stand it back up. Be encouraged and consider the root stimulator.

[ZoneTenNut]

Scott,

One other thing regarding the watering. I put the hose on a slow flow and laid it at the base of these palms, so they could get a deep watering. Our winter is our dry season here, so couldn't count on the rain. I know your winter is your rainy, but if you don't get rain and don't have these on some sort of drip, you might try this as well. Again, this worked well for me.

[Scott]

ZoneTenNut - Thanks for the tips! I have alot to learn, and I appreciate it.

Makes sense about root stimulation. Think Vitamin B is good? Or perhaps something like Superthrive?

Thanks again!

[Kris]

Dear Scotty  

very sorry to hear it. in india every mansoon

season we have cycleones gusty winds at around

45 to 60 kmph/ so when govt radio broadcasts the

weather the farmers & landlords all employ workers

to trim the coco nucifera's,musa paradisa so that they

have less leaves to resist that wind travel.

if your palms can take this sought of pruning then next

time try this method & reduce damage arising due to

heavy winds.

Love,

Kris.

[ZoneTenNut]

(Scott @ Dec. 10 2006,00:28)

QUOTE

ZoneTenNut - Thanks for the tips! I have alot to learn, and I appreciate it.

Makes sense about root stimulation. Think Vitamin B is good? Or perhaps something like Superthrive?

Thanks again!

Scott,

You're welcome and not sure on the vitamin B or superthrive, as I've not tried them before. My thought was to promote root growth and not fronds so much, so as long as this is what you would get out of it, I would assume would be beneficial.

[DoomsDave]

The wind can do a number on some palms, no two ways.  

Some are much sturdier than others.

Scott, the tough common palms will take the wind well.  If they're wobbly, they're probably not well-rooted in yet.  Give them time and they'll root in.  Meantime, stake them a little loose so they'll wobble just a bit, which will stimulate root growth.  IF they're too high, you'll need to add dirt around the bases.  

Alll of that said, 70 mPH winds are tough on anything.  If you're in a windy spot, you'll need to find a way to blunt their force if you can.

The Santa Ana winds are probably the single biggest limiting factor to palm happienss in inland areas.

dave

[Scott]

(Dave from So-Cal @ Dec. 10 2006,19:46)

QUOTE

IF they're too high, you'll need to add dirt around the bases.  

The Santa Ana winds are probably the single biggest limiting factor to palm happienss in inland areas.

That's definitely one thing I have yet to do - is that I planted a Roeb recently too high, and have to figure out a way to raise the soil level and stake it.

I wish there was a way to divert the winds! But the Bamboo I planted definitely does some shielding on the Bizzie. Thankfully.