I’d like to plant a Trachycarpus fortunei in my yard (cheaply). But how young a tree can I plant outside? I live in Central Texas, zone 8b. 
 

I have a spot picked out in half to full shade, and I’m planning to make a smallish mound to plant it in, since the soil is heavy clay under about 6 inches of topsoil and drains poorly. It’s Texas, so we have some wind. 
 

How young a plant do you think I can plant in the ground? This will be my first palm tree. Any other advice?

1 minute ago, HandelDew said:

I’d like to plant a Trachycarpus fortunei in my yard (cheaply). But how young a tree can I plant outside? I live in Central Texas, zone 8b. 
 

I have a spot picked out in half to full shade, and I’m planning to make a smallish mound to plant it in, since the soil is heavy clay under about 6 inches of topsoil and drains poorly. It’s Texas, so we have some wind. 
 

How young a plant do you think I can plant in the ground? This will be my first palm tree. Any other advice?

I'd say at least to the height of your knee.

I'm in 8b and germinate them in the ground.  If I germinate them in the house during the winter, the strap leaf seedlings go outside early to mid April.

Just now, HandelDew said:

I’d like to plant a Trachycarpus fortunei in my yard (cheaply). But how young a tree can I plant outside? I live in Central Texas, zone 8b. 
 

I have a spot picked out in half to full shade, and I’m planning to make a smallish mound to plant it in, since the soil is heavy clay under about 6 inches of topsoil and drains poorly. It’s Texas, so we have some wind. 
 

How young a plant do you think I can plant in the ground? This will be my first palm tree. Any other advice?

Wait until April to plant.  Plant palms when they are actively growing. They establish better in warm weather.  A  1 gal will fine.

If in Texas 8b, or the Deep South 8b, a Sabal Palmetto is equally hardy as a Trachycarpus Fortunei, long-term. There is enough summer heat that they will recover from this freeze. Sabals prefer our hot summers. Sabals are the winners of The 2021 Deep Freeze in Zone 8b in my assessment. I am not sure about Texas Zone 8a, how things will turn out.

A rooted 1 gallon palm is good. Protect a Trachycarpus or most palms, for three years, and anytime a forecast below 10F is forecast. They seem to take 5F here before they are in risk of death. There are 1-2 freezes in Texas zone 8b below 10F every 20 years on average. 
Trachycapus prefer not to dry out in the summer, and afternoon and evening partial shade is best.

Edited March 11, 20215 yr by Collectorpalms

I have heard it said that the hardiest Trachy is one planted directly in the ground from seed.

I have not tried it because I am to old.