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When to cover Washies?


MSX

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Hello palmtalkers!

Another question to our gurus from a newbie - when is it okay to cover Washingtonia palms (day-night air temperatures pattern)?

Some Washingtonia owners suggest to only cover the palms if both day and night temperatures entirely fall below freezing (below 0 degrees C or 32 degrees F) and not to cover the trees on above freezing days and subfreezing nights forecast pattern to keep the trees as healthy as possible, how true is that?

To cover or not with the forecast like this?

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I have two Washingtonia palms planted in the ground this spring and by now by the end of this growing season they reached this size. What are the limits of this sized Washingtonias survival? -5C(23F), -7C(19F)...?

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PS. Some details about the plants discussed:

Apr 2021. Before planting. Two washies brought from two different nurseries, same sized but with some minor differences in appearance

mar21.thumb.jpg.372a132c9297e14715acf31f88ea3e6b.jpg

Washy 1 (Apr 2021). Probably pure Filifera or filifera dominant x Filibusta? Grows slower, has produced 8 new leaves during the growing season.

DSCN7285.thumb.jpg.627f0bda4f832ea253047d5b07a709a3.jpg

mid-season (Aug 2021)

wash2.thumb.jpg.669441b57a141abf7776d5fdce940297.jpg

end season 2021 (Nov 2021)

IMG_20211114_121117.thumb.jpg.29bed8308f1e2a01d50650b04ca5dbe5.jpg

Washy 2. (Apr 2021). Probably pure Robusta or robusta dominant x Filibusta? Grows faster and produced 15 new leaves during the growing season.

IMG_20210325_124359.thumb.jpg.38410a48f5e22df7aa71f8583bee93b9.jpg

mid-season (Aug 2021)

IMG_20210806_115310.thumb.jpg.2f42b15b80cf47b008c5fca043792ded.jpg

end season 2021 (Nov 2021)

IMG_20211114_132103.thumb.jpg.bd6a038a577ec6b13dc68c673387e012.jpg

Thanks!

Edited by MSX
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48 consecutive hours below 32F with a low below 20F for Robusta that size and larger. Wind and snow will be worse however.

For now I would add about 6 inches of mulch and wrap the trunk thickly and leave the leaf alone for now.

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Current Texas Gardening Zone 9a, Mean (1999-2024): 22F Low/104F High. Yearly Precipitation 39.17 inches.

Extremes: Low Min 4F 2021, 13.8F 2024. High Max 112F 2011/2023, Precipitation Max 58 inches 2015, Lowest 19 Inches 2011.

Weather Station: https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KTXCOLLE465

Ryan (Paleoclimatologist Since 4 billion Years ago, Meteorologist/Earth Scientist/Physicist Since 1995, Savy Horticulturist Since Birth.)

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In addition to the above when it gets even colder or snows,

I would go buy some 8 foot long wooden stakes, and some clear marine vinyl, and build a teepee using 3 stakes per palm, zip tie at top, and then drape clear tarp over, and you have essentially created an umbrella for it. 

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Right at about/below 23F mine would start to see damage,it

was always ok above that temp.

Edited by Jimhardy
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Great info for my washies as well! What about sabals I have two planted about this same time I’m in a southern usda 7a. Temps are still very mild in the day with chilly nights 

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Youtube - Okpalms 

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On 11/18/2021 at 9:30 PM, Collectorpalms said:

48 consecutive hours below 32F with a low below 20F for Robusta that size and larger. Wind and snow will be worse however.

For now I would add about 6 inches of mulch and wrap the trunk thickly and leave the leaf alone for now.

Thank you very much for this info, Ryan!

Our typical winter day is sunny above freezing with subfreezing night. Two straight days of sub-freezing temperatures, it happens very rarely. Winter rains and snows are quite rare too - we're in the arid desert climate receiving less than 200 mm a year. Summing up, my Washies technically need to be fully covered on some occasions only during the winter (48hrs+ t<32F, snow&wind alert) and there is no need in a permanent all-winter-long protection? Heavy mulching and wrapping the trunk would be sufficient protection for a regular winter day?

usualwinter.jpg.96cf522f23c749e922a6f108202f1192.jpg

On 11/19/2021 at 1:12 AM, DreaminAboutPalms said:

In addition to the above when it gets even colder or snows,

I would go buy some 8 foot long wooden stakes, and some clear marine vinyl, and build a teepee using 3 stakes per palm, zip tie at top, and then drape clear tarp over, and you have essentially created an umbrella for it. 

Ben, thanks a lot for your suggestion! You know, in fear of upcoming forecasted night lows the other weekend I constructed nearly the same Wigwam with all the things I found in my garage - some steel pipes, letfover mineral wool insulation and clear PE greenhouse film for outer protection. Today I disassembled the wigwams, fully removed PE greenhouse film because it just got too hot inside and mineral wool around the trunk, the trunk itself was very very wet as if I had just watered it (when watering my palms with a hose I always water the soil beneath the palms and the whole thing including trunk), the insulation material was slightly wet, due to the lack of air circulation inside the construction, neverthless it works - the smart construction is using both solar energy during the day and the warmth of soil during the night, the air stays warm inside, another question if or when Washies really need this...

I realize now I constructed all this a way too early, with the info from Ryan I start to doubt now if Washies ever need this level of protection for our regular winter day, and you're right this construction can be very quickly assembled when it gets cooler or snows...

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IMG_20211117_122901.thumb.jpg.8e5eafc24c16eda4b4a680d72d81cd5d.jpg

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On 11/19/2021 at 3:48 PM, Jimhardy said:

Right at about/below 23F mine would start to see damage,it

was always ok above that temp.

Jim, how old is your Washy? robusta, filifera, crossbred?

 

 

Edited by MSX
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 I had a Filibusta for a few years until it outgrew the 10' tall protection.

They put out some serious plant material spring/summer/fall.

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This is my Washyimage.thumb.jpeg.3413e88d52e920cf29bd0dfc825665e4.jpeg

This is my winter protection. Now it is fully enclosed. I have a 2x4 structure with R5 rigid insulation. That is covered with Tavel wrap except for the front so that I can allow some airflow when I want to. It is boxed now that the nights are below freezing and it will stay dormant in there with Christmas lights to keep the temps above zero until spring. I live in zone 5b

image.thumb.jpeg.93d41b5a3056a80e773cbab35c5d4ec4.jpeg

image.jpeg

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