Relocating an establish Chamaerops Humilis (Med Palm)

[Ed Askew]

I have a Mediterranean Fan palm that is about 6 feet tall that I transplanted from a little pot in 2007.  It has grown out at a 45 degree angle and now is impinging on my little gravel road that goes around one side of my house, so that I hit it every time I drive by in my truck.  One way or another, that has to end and simply trimming it will not suffice.   I want to attempt to relocate it, just a couple of feet back from the road, and I have a big electric wench that I can use to move it.  It's going to be really heavy.  So, the question is does anyone have experience relocating a Med Palm?  I know they are not the same as other palms like Windmills, Date Palms, etc, and don't do a good job of growing back cut roots.  Any suggestions?

[Darold Petty]

Chamaerops is one of the easiest genera to move.  You mentioned a winch, so be sure to take a large rootball and keep it well watered afterward.  

[Harry’s Palms]

This is good news ! I have one that is getting big. I planted it thinking it was a smaller(less than 6') clumping palm. Mine has never sent out a clump but just keeps getting bigger as a single trunk. It has been in the ground for at least 20 years and at some point may block my view from our deck . It is well over 8' from the shortest side of my slope . I'm not sure I would move it , but good to know I can.You can see a partial view of the palm in the right side of this photo. Harry

[Darold Petty]

Awesome air drainage there,  Harry !    

[Chester B]

Yes you can move them.  The standard advice applies - get the biggest root ball you can, keep them watered the first year, and have some patience it may take a couple years for it to resume normal growth.

[RichardHemsley]

Ditto what others have said. I have relocated lots of them in gardens I look after, mostly plants that grown from naturally sown seed and have a well established root zone. I give them quite a hard prune back before moving, and get as much root as possible.  Keep them well watered and you will be fine.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Chamaerops are very good transplant recipients. My crew has moved them before. Here they are moving a mature one a few years ago. The palm had no setback at all and continued producing lots of new fronds right from the get-go. Its leaf canopy required no pruning either. You can see the root ball was of moderate proportion too. Not huge. 
 

Edited February 14, 2024 by Jim in Los Altos
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[Harry’s Palms]

Jim , that looks a lot like mine , single trunk , quite a bit taller than the clumping ones . I wonder what makes the singles so much larger than the clumpers. To me they look different , with the singular straight , non leaning trunk. So, it looks like I would need 5-6 guys to move mine …..hmmmm. Probably not gonna happen so if it becomes a problem , I’ll just keep it trimmed up. Harry

[Jim in Los Altos]

7 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Jim , that looks a lot like mine , single trunk , quite a bit taller than the clumping ones . I wonder what makes the singles so much larger than the clumpers. To me they look different , with the singular straight , non leaning trunk. So, it looks like I would need 5-6 guys to move mine …..hmmmm. Probably not gonna happen so if it becomes a problem , I’ll just keep it trimmed up. Harry

Harry, That particular palm was producing multiple offsets for years and the previous owner kept them cut off. The palm eventually gave up trying to grow into a multi. The palm was free. We just needed to move it so my clients got a nice mature specimen when they were only expecting a much younger one. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Jim , it looks like you did it right! Most of the clumps I’ve seen have more leaning to them rather than just straight up. Harry