To cut down, transplant, or let grow

[rizla023]

Hello. I’m having a moral dilemma with my royal I planted 2 years ago. It’s growing great but I’m realizing it’s about 10 feet away from the major power lines… I know it’s a decade or so from reaching that size so I am faced with a challenge... to transplant, cut down or let grow… seeking wisdom from the experts! The power lines at the very very top (the dangerous ones), are 10 feet or so from the palm. Overall, the palm is 15-17 feet away from the power line pole.

Santa Ana, CA

[Harry’s Palms]

It will be very close , depending on which Royal you have there. If it is a Venezuelan I wouldn’t worry . It would be prudent to trim when it gets that big. A Cuban Royal has very  large fronds and it would be problematic with our east winds. I’m not sure about moving it , I have heard it can be problematic to move a Roystonea in Southern California . Maybe someone has done it and can advise. Harry

[Jim in Los Altos]

I think you’re okay with that Roystonea. This Archontophonix is much closer to the high voltage wires and just needs an occasional trim on the side of the wires to keep the utility company happy. Eventually it will be well above the wires and not ever need trimming again. 

[Looking Glass]

I’d look out into the future, say, 10+ years.    Do you definitely want that size palm right in that spot?  It will have 15 foot fronds that can weight 50 lbs, a huge trunk, and great height.   These can be tough to deal with in tight spaces for maintenance, and especially removal.  It’s easiest to cut your losses now, if you don’t want to deal with that.   I, myself, wouldn’t want to deal with these on my tight residential lot.  My neighbor across the street on the other hand, has three 75 foot monsters.  

[awkonradi]

I vote let it grow.  Ten years is a long time.

[mnorell]

If you don't move it, perhaps consider planting another that is a further distance out from the lines. That way the years will not have been wasted if the utility company decapitates it or you decide to remove it pre-emptively at a later date. It looks like yours is still small enough to move, but Royals may indeed have a long setback if moved in SoCal; and replacements are easy to obtain and fast-growing. Also keep in mind that Royals are very sensitive to EM radiation (I had this problem in the Florida Keys and saw it regularly there) so you will likely have brown fronds within a close distance of those high-tension lines.