Debooting Sabal Mexicana

[WattsZ]

I’ve noticed a lot of ants living in the boots… I’ve sprayed and started to kills the tiny ants but would like to remove the boots to make it less attractive of any area to nest… SO with that how/what’s the proper way to remove the boots of a sabal?

 

thanks 

[PalmatierMeg]

I have a problem with hacking off boots on palms. It is hard work with sharp blades that can damage the palm's trunk for disease, pests and woodpeckers to attack. Or maybe kill you. The thought of someone butchering that beautiful palm bottom to top makes me cringe. I can testify bigger ants live there, too. You worry about ants on boots but just look up at the top of the trunk, the fronds, seeds, flowers. I guarantee there are countless ants, bees, spiders, palmetto bugs and water rats hanging out there. Short of cutting of the trunk level with the ground you can't get rid of them. If having Nature growing in your yard skeeves you out so much you might want to scalp your yard and lay sterile astroturf.

I'm not trying to insult you but hacking up a Sabal (which usually shed their own boots, thanks a lot), possibly shedding blood in the process, brutal hard work and expenses of tools whatnot just to foil 1 mm ants. And all that butchery, expense, blood loss and hard work may do more harm than good.

 

[MarcusH]

On 3/13/2024 at 4:56 PM, WattsZ said:

I’ve noticed a lot of ants living in the boots… I’ve sprayed and started to kills the tiny ants but would like to remove the boots to make it less attractive of any area to nest… SO with that how/what’s the proper way to remove the boots of a sabal?

 

thanks 

If the boots are loose you could remove them easily by just pulling the boots. A box cutter knife might help as well . 

Some people prefer the looks of a smooth trunk and some others prefer the natural look. Each to their own I don't judge.  

Don't remove boots close to the crown .

[WattsZ]

1 hour ago, MarcusH said:

If the boots are loose you could remove them easily by just pulling the boots. A box cutter knife might help as well . 

Some people prefer the looks of a smooth trunk and some others prefer the natural look. Each to their own I don't judge.  

Don't remove boots close to the crown .

thank you for the info. yea my bottom ones touching the ground came off pretty easy. I was thinking about a box cutter but wasn't sure. if all goes well i plan on making smooth and stopping 3-4 foot from crown

[Dwarf Fan]

I really like the look on these debooted S. Mexicana. In my opinion they look very elegant cleaned up, similar to a Washy:

[Las Palmas Norte]

If you can get some of the boots off, enough to apply Tanglefoot Insect Barrier, that might solve the migration of ants.

[Jimhardy]

Those de-booted Sabal are nice....I wonder if I could get the same look by using

a cut off telephone pole with a flower pot on top and plant a Cycad in the pot...

Box cutters are for boxes and getting airplanes to go where you want.

[N8ALLRIGHT]

On 3/17/2024 at 8:13 AM, Jimhardy said:

 

Box cutters are for boxes and getting airplanes to go where you want.

Jesus Jim,I almost spit my drink out. 😂

[Jimhardy]

Just having some fun...I will never see a Sabal growing well in Iowa...

to cold and to old.

[WattsZ]

On 3/16/2024 at 6:22 PM, Las Palmas Norte said:

If you can get some of the boots off, enough to apply Tanglefoot Insect Barrier, that might solve the migration of ants.

thank you, ill look that product up, never heard of it