Laying sod near new Phoenix Sylvestris

[Casey]

I have two healthy 18' Phoenix Sylvestris that were planted over a year ago. Sod is now scheduled to be laid around them and I was told me to keep mulch 3' away from the trunk for an undetermined amount of time. Since they've been in the ground for over a year, how close to the trunk can I lay the sod?

[Gottagrowemall]

1 hour ago, Casey said:

I have two healthy 18' Phoenix Sylvestris that were planted over a year ago. Sod is now scheduled to be laid around them and I was told me to keep mulch 3' away from the trunk for an undetermined amount of time. Since they've been in the ground for over a year, how close to the trunk can I lay the sod?

If it’s st Augustine sod keep it away or it’ll grow right up onto the trunk and the lawn guys will have to use edgers or weedwackers to get the grass off which will damage the tree. Build a small stone circle around it with stones from Home Depot or lowes. I did this one for a client but you can make a smaller one similar then have the sod right against the blocks.

[PalmatierMeg]

Keep grass/weeds away from palm trunks in a 3' circle - period.

[NickJames]

3 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Keep grass/weeds away from palm trunks in a 3' circle - period.

Absolutely! 

[Jtee]

4 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Keep grass/weeds away from palm trunks in a 3' circle - period.

No matter how much mulch I put around my palm the grass comes back aggressively. What else can I do?

[aztropic]

51 minutes ago, Jtee said:

No matter how much mulch I put around my palm the grass comes back aggressively. What else can I do?

Roundup. Only kills what it is applied to and becomes inert once it hits the ground, so no damage to your palm.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[Merlyn]

6 hours ago, Casey said:

I have two healthy 18' Phoenix Sylvestris that were planted over a year ago. Sod is now scheduled to be laid around them and I was told me to keep mulch 3' away from the trunk for an undetermined amount of time. Since they've been in the ground for over a year, how close to the trunk can I lay the sod?

Just to be clear, you were told to "mulch a 3' radius around the trunk" or you were told to "keep mulch at least 3' radius away from the trunk?"  They are a bit different.    As others noted, you should keep sod (and weeds) 3' away from the trunk in all directions.  Mulch is okay up to the trunk but keep it an inch or so away from touching the actual trunk.  That just helps prevent trunk rot or fungus at the base of the trunk.  I like the flat-front edging blocks to make a border, so that it's easy to use a string trimmer to cut back the grass.  The blocks with the "notch" like Gottagrowemall showed are a pain when it's time to mow the yard.  I kept hitting the notches with the mower and then the notches eat up the string really fast.  I trashed a big area of those blocks and bought more of the "Pavestone RockWall Yukon Small" like these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pavestone-RockWall-Small-4-in-x-11-75-in-x-6-75-in-Yukon-Concrete-Retaining-Wall-Block-87550/204643744

The "Rumblestone Trap" are good too, but more expensive per linear foot.  Lowe's has similar ones with the mostly-flat front.

[Casey]

23 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Keep grass/weeds away from palm trunks in a 3' circle - period.

 

20 hours ago, NickJames said:

Absolutely! 

 

18 hours ago, Merlyn said:

Just to be clear, you were told to "mulch a 3' radius around the trunk" or you were told to "keep mulch at least 3' radius away from the trunk?"  They are a bit different.    As others noted, you should keep sod (and weeds) 3' away from the trunk in all directions.  Mulch is okay up to the trunk but keep it an inch or so away from touching the actual trunk.  That just helps prevent trunk rot or fungus at the base of the trunk.  I like the flat-front edging blocks to make a border, so that it's easy to use a string trimmer to cut back the grass.  The blocks with the "notch" like Gottagrowemall showed are a pain when it's time to mow the yard.  I kept hitting the notches with the mower and then the notches eat up the string really fast.  I trashed a big area of those blocks and bought more of the "Pavestone RockWall Yukon Small" like these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pavestone-RockWall-Small-4-in-x-11-75-in-x-6-75-in-Yukon-Concrete-Retaining-Wall-Block-87550/204643744

The "Rumblestone Trap" are good too, but more expensive per linear foot.  Lowe's has similar ones with the mostly-flat front.

So 3' seems to be the answer - thank you all very much. But Why 3'? Is it to prevent trunk rot? Suffocating the tree? Can 2' work if space/aesthetics is an issue?

[Merlyn]

8 minutes ago, Casey said:

So 3' seems to be the answer - thank you all very much. But Why 3'? Is it to prevent trunk rot? Suffocating the tree? Can 2' work if space/aesthetics is an issue?

I honestly don't know why 3' radius is the "preferred distance."  I think it's just because it gives around a 6' diameter to make sure that weedwhackers don't slice through near-surface roots.  And so that there's less risk of spraying weedkillers or other yard chemicals on the palm.  Or it could be just a convenient rule-of-thumb.  Or it could be to make sure that there is enough trunk clearance at the ground for future trunk growth.  Some palms like Sylvesters grow "adventitious roots" partway up the trunk, so these can form a big base over time.  I've seen Sylvesters planted in parking lot islands that are only about 4 feet wide, which probably isn't ideal.  And it definitely isn't ideal if your Sylvester grows adventitious roots 8' up the trunk like this one:

Personally I think a 2' radius around it would be okay.  So your overall diameter would be 4' plus the trunk diameter at ground level.  That would probably be a 6-7' diameter circle overall, which seems reasonable.  The above palm is probably almost 4' diameter at ground level, just due to the mass of roots.