westfork Posted Saturday at 09:51 PM Report Share Posted Saturday at 09:51 PM Can Sabal minor take reflected heat in the summer? We are starting a very experimental palm planting on the west side of a brick structure up in USDA hardiness zone 5, heat zone 6/7, and 43 north latitude. It is in an easy location to provide winter shelter. The mainstays will be Sabal minor McCurtain, Cherokee, and a couple others as well as a Louisiana and x Brazoriensis mixed in. Needle palms in a different spot. -This location does not have full sun, only from 1PM to 9PM, but the morning is still very bright. We usually have intense sun and deep blue skies from the moment the sun clears the eastern horizon, especially in winter - No haze from being anywhere near a large body of water. -We have three months where the daytime highs often stay in the mid to upper 90s and the occasional 100+. -We cool off at night but the brick radiates a LOT of heat after the sun goes down. I am hoping we have enough sun and heat to build ample reserves for winter survival. Deep, rich Midwestern loess soils and in an easy spot to irrigate as needed. Site is well protected from the merciless south winds that destroy anything leafing out in the early spring. BUT . . . Would that reflected heat off a medium red brick wall be too much, even for the heat loving Sabals? I have sunburned my share of agaves before learning which species can take reflected heat. Thanks for any experiences you may have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Posted Saturday at 10:38 PM Report Share Posted Saturday at 10:38 PM I don't see that being a problem. It would be best to have it in full sun and on South side but you got to work with what you have. Plant 1-3' from wall your choice. They will lean away some. Will need protection every winter 1 YouTube (TN Tropics) 60+ In-ground 7A palms - (Sabal) minor(7 large + 27 seedling size, 3 dwarf), brazoria(1) , birmingham(4), etonia (1) louisiana(5), palmetto (1), riverside (1), (Trachycarpus) fortunei(7), wagnerianus(1), Rhapidophyllum hystrix(7), 15' Mule-Butia x Syagrus(1), Blue Butia capitata(1) +Tons of tropical plants. Recent Yearly Lows -1F, 12F, 11F, 18F, 16F, 3F, 3F, 6F, 3F, 1F, 16F, 17F, 6F, 8F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westfork Posted Saturday at 11:18 PM Author Report Share Posted Saturday at 11:18 PM 33 minutes ago, Allen said: I don't see that being a problem. It would be best to have it in full sun and on South side but you got to work with what you have. Plant 1-3' from wall your choice. They will lean away some. Will need protection every winter Thanks Allen, I was hoping since they love heat that the reflected heat may not be a big issue. I might try on a couple south walls, but only species that can tolerate the days of continuous 50 to up to 70 mph warm winds coming up from the south in April and May. The only trees in this area to slow the winds are those planted by man after the prairie fires were stopped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Posted Saturday at 11:41 PM Report Share Posted Saturday at 11:41 PM 22 minutes ago, westfork said: Thanks Allen, I was hoping since they love heat that the reflected heat may not be a big issue. I might try on a couple south walls, but only species that can tolerate the days of continuous 50 to up to 70 mph warm winds coming up from the south in April and May. The only trees in this area to slow the winds are those planted by man after the prairie fires were stopped. The 50-60 mph winds we just had here didn't hurt the Sabal minor and I have one by a sunny south brick wall that is doing great. 2 YouTube (TN Tropics) 60+ In-ground 7A palms - (Sabal) minor(7 large + 27 seedling size, 3 dwarf), brazoria(1) , birmingham(4), etonia (1) louisiana(5), palmetto (1), riverside (1), (Trachycarpus) fortunei(7), wagnerianus(1), Rhapidophyllum hystrix(7), 15' Mule-Butia x Syagrus(1), Blue Butia capitata(1) +Tons of tropical plants. Recent Yearly Lows -1F, 12F, 11F, 18F, 16F, 3F, 3F, 6F, 3F, 1F, 16F, 17F, 6F, 8F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westfork Posted yesterday at 12:59 AM Author Report Share Posted yesterday at 12:59 AM I was going to try a couple large Needle Palms on a south facing brick wall. Many times on this forum I have seen comments from far northern growers how the Sabal minor survived better than the Rhapidophyllum hystrix. Perhaps the deep subterranean trunk or greater tolerance of winter moisture or frozen soil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanK Posted yesterday at 02:27 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 02:27 PM Needles do better if kept dryer in winter. Summertime, all should be given supplemental water if rainfall is less than 3 inches per month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PalmatierMeg Posted yesterday at 03:52 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 03:52 PM Can you provide photos of the planned planting area and nearby surroundings so we can better visualize what you want to do? Meg Palms of Victory I shall wear Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise) Florida Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal Elevation: 15 feetI'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westfork Posted yesterday at 05:57 PM Author Report Share Posted yesterday at 05:57 PM 1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said: Can you provide photos of the planned planting area and nearby surroundings so we can better visualize what you want to do? It is pretty much a blank slate. A thirty foot long brick side of a garage facing west, the house bends around to the south to give protection (but not shade), and shelterbelt to the north and west. Looking east, this is a pic of the back of the garage (on left). The house (on right) comes west far enough for protection from south winds. Raised bed to the north. To the north and behind me is the shelterbelt to protect from winter winds. Plan on sheltering the whole length of that wall up to the heat pump unit during the coldest months. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PalmatierMeg Posted yesterday at 06:18 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 06:18 PM Shelter Belt: a new term and new concept for me. I looked it up and, Wow! All I can think of is that those Sabal minor will need far more protection than proximity to a heat pump. I hope some PTers from way up north will chime in. I admire your determination and fortitude. Welcome to PalmTalk. Please stick around to educate us on your project. 1 Meg Palms of Victory I shall wear Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise) Florida Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal Elevation: 15 feetI'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Posted yesterday at 06:26 PM Report Share Posted yesterday at 06:26 PM (edited) 8 minutes ago, PalmatierMeg said: Shelter Belt: a new term and new concept for me. I looked it up and, Wow! All I can think of is that those Sabal minor will need far more protection than proximity to a heat pump. I hope some PTers from way up north will chime in. I admire your determination and fortitude. Welcome to PalmTalk. Please stick around to educate us on your project. Yes zone 5 is super experimental and everything will need good protection. Edited yesterday at 06:27 PM by Allen YouTube (TN Tropics) 60+ In-ground 7A palms - (Sabal) minor(7 large + 27 seedling size, 3 dwarf), brazoria(1) , birmingham(4), etonia (1) louisiana(5), palmetto (1), riverside (1), (Trachycarpus) fortunei(7), wagnerianus(1), Rhapidophyllum hystrix(7), 15' Mule-Butia x Syagrus(1), Blue Butia capitata(1) +Tons of tropical plants. Recent Yearly Lows -1F, 12F, 11F, 18F, 16F, 3F, 3F, 6F, 3F, 1F, 16F, 17F, 6F, 8F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westfork Posted yesterday at 06:38 PM Author Report Share Posted yesterday at 06:38 PM It will be very easy to use some triple layer polycarbonate sheeting to make a lean to greenhouse against the garage for the cold months. Heat pump will be outside as it would make it colder. Looking down the lane (a month ago). Pup is laying on top of our raised berm in progress for southwestern plants. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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