Trachycarpus fortunei protection during cold snap

[CoconutHead]

I’m protecting my Trachycarpus fortunei for this upcoming cold snap in Pennsylvania, zone 7a. Under 20 degrees for the next three days. This is their second winter. I originally got them as a two pack from Home Depot. First I shoveled snow over them, then stuck a box over that, a blanket over that, and some snow and wood to hold the blanket down. I don’t think it’s supposed to be too windy. I hope they survive!

[Swolte]

Epic.

[PAPalmtrees]

I'm just curious where do you live in Pennsylvania because I also live in Pennsylvania z7a

[Allen]

Next time put the box over the dry palm and cover that with snow if you don't want to use heat

[CoconutHead]

10 hours ago, Allen said:

Next time put the box over the dry palm and cover that with snow if you don't want to use heat

Reason? Does it insulate better?

[CoconutHead]

20 hours ago, PaPalmTrees said:

I'm just curious where do you live in Pennsylvania because I also live in Pennsylvania z7a

Newville. I’m always interested to hear what successes people have had around me with growing palms outdoors. What do you grow? Any attempts with Trachycarpus fortunei, Sabal palmettos, or Sabel minors?

[Allen]

17 minutes ago, CoconutHead said:

Reason? Does it insulate better?

Wet cold on a weak windmill is likely to increase spear pull odds a lot

[CoconutHead]

8 minutes ago, Allen said:

Wet cold on a weak windmill is likely to increase spear pull odds a lot

Good to know. I thought that was mainly a concern with drier weather palms, like the west coast Washingtonias. I usually just put the box over them with the blanket, but because we got the snow and the temperature was going to drop, I thought I’d use the snow for extra insulation. It was a dry snow, so as soon as it will be warming up in two days, I’ll unbox and blow the snow off. 

[PAPalmtrees]

2 hours ago, CoconutHead said:

Newville. I’m always interested to hear what successes people have had around me with growing palms outdoors. What do you grow? Any attempts with Trachycarpus fortunei, Sabal palmettos, or Sabel minors?

cool! You only live an hour away from me. I haven't grown any Windmills yet, but in my Garden i Have 4 Sabal minors, 1 Needle Palm, 2 sago palms (Not a palm) 5 Sabal palmettos Seedlings, 2 Pindo Palm Seedlings, And I also grow All sorts of cold Hardy tropics (Note All of the palm Seedlings aren't in the Ground)

[CoconutHead]

9 hours ago, PaPalmTrees said:

cool! You only live an hour away from me. I haven't grown any Windmills yet, but in my Garden i Have 4 Sabal minors, 1 Needle Palm, 2 sago palms (Not a palm) 5 Sabal palmettos Seedlings, 2 Pindo Palm Seedlings, And I also grow All sorts of cold Hardy tropics (Note All of the palm Seedlings aren't in the Ground)

What have you found works well? Do you have to give the Sabel minors or Needle palms any cold protection or are they good?

[PAPalmtrees]

4 hours ago, CoconutHead said:

What have you found works well? Do you have to give the Sabel minors or Needle palms any cold protection or are they good?

What I recommend for the Needle Palm is to Give it protection  four a couple winters Because in colder areas needle palms Are susceptible to wet conditions when it's cold out, You don't really have to use any heating Or anything Just try and protect it from freezing Rain If you want some better information watch this video from @Allen  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zRcyYNrRNM with the Sabal minors If it's a smaller with the Sabal minors If it's a smaller Sabal minors I would give it Protection if the temperatures go under zero but If it's a big Sabal minors I would be less worried and Probably protect it if it temperatures go under -5

[Las Palmas Norte]

4 hours ago, PaPalmTrees said:

What I recommend for the Needle Palm is to Give it protection  four a couple winters ...

I didn't give my Needle palm an overhead canopy the first few winters. It lost it's largest main growth. It looks like hell  but its hanging in there with several offsets.

Took this pic today to show how rough it looks in January. 

[CoconutHead]

On 1/20/2025 at 9:43 PM, PaPalmTrees said:

cool! You only live an hour away from me. I haven't grown any Windmills yet, but in my Garden i Have 4 Sabal minors, 1 Needle Palm, 2 sago palms (Not a palm) 5 Sabal palmettos Seedlings, 2 Pindo Palm Seedlings, And I also grow All sorts of cold Hardy tropics (Note All of the palm Seedlings aren't in the Ground)

What are your plans for the sabal palmettos? Are you going to try and plant them in the ground? Maybe in a strategic place with winter protection?

[PAPalmtrees]

1 hour ago, CoconutHead said:

What are your plans for the sabal palmettos? Are you going to try and plant them in the ground? Maybe in a strategic place with winter protection?

Yeah im probably gonna plant one or two Of them I'll plant them up against the house and when it gets under  15 I'll protect them

[MIKE82397]

Biggest mishaps mistakes (spear pull) for me have been “cold moisture” related. I’ll go to extremes to keep mine dry in the winter. Especially smaller palms or potted palms

[Adam_NY]

Any update on your trachy, @CoconutHead?  I am about to buy that same Home Depot 2 pack and give these a try. I am quite a bit north of you but more coastal (Westchester County, NY north of NYC, zone 7a most winters), so I feel like it may be possible. 

[CoconutHead]

19 hours ago, Adam_NY said:

Any update on your trachy, @CoconutHead?  I am about to buy that same Home Depot 2 pack and give these a try. I am quite a bit north of you but more coastal (Westchester County, NY north of NYC, zone 7a most winters), so I feel like it may be possible. 

They are looking rough. Last winter they did pretty well, just a little frond damage. This year with the -3 degrees I had them covered with a cardboard box and blanket. The spears on them pulled, but I sprayed them with a copper fungicide. The other fronds have not pulled, I've been checking. So now just waiting to see if they come back. They are still fairly small. It is my understanding they get more cold hard when they are a little bigger.

[Adam_NY]

Thanks, wow -3, that’s even lower than we got this winter though we had several stretches with numerous consecutive nights below 20. Seems like people are saying that a heat source (Christmas lights etc) is needed for trachys when they’re small