Trying to identify this Palm.. when will I have to consider removing this?

[Tgunner]

Livistona Chinensis or Washingtonia Robusta?

Second question

How long do I have before this becomes an issue for the house?

[happypalms]

Yes that one is definitely a problem child. Looks like a chinensis. As to when you remove it is up to you. It may get a curved trunk over time and lean away from the house, then it may fall over or just as likely have trunk rubbing up against the house. If it was my palm I would remove it now. A few nice chamaedorea Radicalis trunkless form would go well there if it’s not to hot there in summer. Or some of the smaller Zamia varieties planted there would look nice. Good luck. 

[Fusca]

1 hour ago, Tgunner said:

Livistona Chinensis or Washingtonia Robusta?

Second question

How long do I have before this becomes an issue for the house?

It's actually Washingtonia filibusta (hybrid).  Note the cottony fibers on the fronds and the hastula.  Trunk is too thick for pure robusta and red on the base of the petioles shows it has some robusta.  It looks like it's leaning away from the house and once it clears the roof it'll probably grow straight again.  I don't think it's a problem although the fronds will touch the house.  They grow fast so it will be past the house in a couple of years.  You could just trim the fronds closest to the house but I don't think it's a problem.  Welcome to Palmtalk!

[Harry’s Palms]

Agree with Washingtonia identity , also it will be rubbing against the eves soon . You can move Washingtonian but it may not be worth doing. They grow pretty fast . Livistona are on the opposite side of the growth rate. Harry

[Fusca]

This thread addresses the issue of palms too close to the house:

 

[Merlyn]

It does look like it is trying to curve away, hunting for more light.  Palms naturally grow straight vertical, so that is kind of unusual.  Personally I would leave it and see if it goes outwards enough to clear the eaves.  If you are not in a fire risk or high wind risk area, it might be totally fine in a couple of years.  

You can also try bending it away intentionally, by strapping it to an anchor in the ground or a post hammered into the ground.  I have hammered steel pipes into the ground and tied ropes to giant Beccariophoenix Alfredii to pull them back upright after hurricanes.  A rope tied about a foot or so from the top of the crown could do it.  Pulling it away with moderately low force could make it continue the curve away.

[Patrick]

Seems like it might be problematic to the roof eventually, but it is growing around it. There was a thread a few months back where it was an old house with a Washingtonia and it had grown around the eave and looked pretty good. 

 

Keep the palm and *maybe* repair some plywood if there's a terrible windstorm and the palm moves that much to damage the wood (probably not); or, wait and see and you just might be Ok!

I agree it is Washingtonia.  

[Patrick]

2 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

It does look like it is trying to curve away, hunting for more light.  Palms naturally grow straight vertical, so that is kind of unusual.  Personally I would leave it and see if it goes outwards enough to clear the eaves.  If you are not in a fire risk or high wind risk area, it might be totally fine in a couple of years.  

You can also try bending it away intentionally, by strapping it to an anchor in the ground or a post hammered into the ground.  I have hammered steel pipes into the ground and tied ropes to giant Beccariophoenix Alfredii to pull them back upright after hurricanes.  A rope tied about a foot or so from the top of the crown could do it.  Pulling it away with moderately low force could make it continue the curve away.

See if anyone you know has a 3/4 or 1 ton comealong and maybe you can tie it to a trailer hitch of a heavy truck, like a 2500 or 250 or a dually and pull it over at more of an angle, then secure it with a pipe in the ground and a strap until the new roots grow in. 

 

But that's only if you want to get proactive and crazy. I am a fan of the do nothing, wait and see approach.

[Looking Glass]

3 hours ago, Tgunner said:

Livistona Chinensis or Washingtonia Robusta?

Second question

How long do I have before this becomes an issue for the house?

Depends on what you value more….  Roofs or Palms?    On this site it’s generally palms.   This was a very foreseeable problem when that palm was planted.  Try posting this on a roofing contractor’s forum and you can guess what they’ll say.   

That palm isn’t going to grow at that angle for long.  Once the crown clears the roof line, it will resume growing straight up.   

I’m probably in the minority here, but I’d remove now (or years ago).  And get some palms growing several feet out instead.   The longer you wait, the harder removal will be, and the more time you’ll lose on the new ones.  

[tim_brissy_13]

Agree on the Washingtonia ID. Likely filibusta as suggested above, looks to have traits of both species. 
 

Looking at the growth point leaning out already, I think it’s unlikely to ever be a problem. If you value the palm I’d leave it, but otherwise they are replaceable and other palms may look better there. 

[D Palm]

The lack of recurve in the Palm is a dead giveaway, Washingtonia. I do enjoy the bright glossy leaves but wish it was more costa palmate like Sabals. That would be a hybrid worth owning if it were possible

I would choose the “wait until it may become an issue.” No sense in worrying about something bad happening, when it has not yet occurred.

[Merlyn]

@Patrick yeah, I was thinking a ground anchor but with a heavy duty rachet strap tied to a loop around the top.  Rachet it reasonably tight and then click it once a week to slowly pull jt further.  

Or maybe use a reciprocating saw and carbide blade to slice down down just on the house side of the trunk, and cut the roots on that side.  It would be easier to bend it away from the house, maybe. 

[tim_brissy_13]

40 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

@Patrick yeah, I was thinking a ground anchor but with a heavy duty rachet strap tied to a loop around the top.  Rachet it reasonably tight and then click it once a week to slowly pull jt further.  

I’ve used this exact method with succes on Archontophoenix. Probably more difficult with palms with more girth but don’t see why it wouldn’t work. 

[Kim]

Since you are asking for opinions, I'll give you mine. No matter which palm it is, it will be easier to remove it now rather than later after it gets bigger.

Yes, as some have said, you could leave it and "see what happens." A couple of things that might happen: you will offer rats a ladder to your roof and you will probably have to get up there to remove fallen fronds from your roof, and your home insurance company might order you to remove the palm or have your insurance cancelled.  If the prevailing winds blow so as to take the fronds away from the roof, and if you have a cat or two to manage the rats, maybe those problems will never materialize. But the insurance problem is a definite gamble.