When to remove protection for Washingtonia robusta

[bgifford]

Hello everyone!

I am curious about when a good time would be to completely remove the Box ( 2x4 frame and foam board insulation). It's getting closer to Spring and was just trying to think ahead. I opened the box up to vent it out and to check on the Palms (which look still great). I know that there is still a chance of frost here after Spring starts,  but I was thinking of eventually maybe just throwing a Frost cloth over them (leave the C9 bulbs wrapped around them with thermocube) if it dips too much into the 20s. 

This is the first Winter that they are in the ground. Overall height is about 5 1/2ft to 6ft now. 

In recent years March had a ton of days with Highs on upper 60s or higher and lows in the 40s and up after start of Spring and maybe a handful of nights in the 20s after that.

Just looking for suggestions and past experiences. 

Thanks for the help.

 

[MarcusH]

2 hours ago, bgifford said:

Hello everyone!

I am curious about when a good time would be to completely remove the Box ( 2x4 frame and foam board insulation). It's getting closer to Spring and was just trying to think ahead. I opened the box up to vent it out and to check on the Palms (which look still great). I know that there is still a chance of frost here after Spring starts,  but I was thinking of eventually maybe just throwing a Frost cloth over them (leave the C9 bulbs wrapped around them with thermocube) if it dips too much into the 20s. 

This is the first Winter that they are in the ground. Overall height is about 5 1/2ft to 6ft now. 

In recent years March had a ton of days with Highs on upper 60s or higher and lows in the 40s and up after start of Spring and maybe a handful of nights in the 20s after that.

Just looking for suggestions and past experiences. 

Thanks for the help.

 

20s aren't an issue for a Robusta at all they get some leave burn here and there but other than that no problem.  I would protect a Robusta if it has been in the ground for maybe 3 years when it gets below 18F but you will kiss goodbye to all of your fronds unprotected when it gets in the teens for sure.  

[bgifford]

That helps. It’s the first winter in the ground so i wanted to be cautious, but if mid 20s are ok then i am sure it should be ok. If it does drop lower or we have a wet freezing event I make sure to cover it. 

[N8ALLRIGHT]

I'm interested in your experience, I'm in 6a Missouri and was thinking about doing the box over a washy myself. Good luck  and make sure to update your thread!

[bgifford]

So as for my experience, I just learned a great lesson yesterday. Make sure your Box is secured well to the ground on all four sides. 

We had a very gusty day yesterday, but the difference to previous gusty, stormy days was that the Gusts were more sustained and started to tip it and then it became a Sail in the wind. Luckily it was just one of my boxes.

I had it tied down on its East and west sides and it seemed to be very secure. Palm is still ok and luckily temps were only 39F last night. Will put tings back up today and secure better.

 

[ky_palm064]

My cover for a 4 foot robusta tipped 45 degrees in the same wind event (35 mph sustained- 61 gust!). I just pulled most of the cover off for the season- left the small xmas lights on trunk, with a loose bubble wrap cylinder to keep the wind off (frost cloth to go over for future temps below the mid 20s f.).

Looking at the 10 day Frankfort forecast, it looks like we'll get through the stretch of winter where  -15 to -20 f lows have happened. Late February to about the first 10 days of March have seen lows to just below 0 f.  After that, until mid April, lows to the mid or upper teens f. occur about every other year.