Palm removals

[Brian]

A few years back I made the mistake of planting 4 royals next to my driveway and also in a way to where they blocked the view into my front yard.

I knew sooner or latter I was going to have to remove them so here goes...

The first 2,

3 and 4,

All work was done with a pick, machete and a breaker bar.

Heres how 3 and 4 fell,

More to come....

[Tad]

man too bad you couldnt have balled them and moved them somewhere else, I hate it when stuff like that happens!

[Brian]

I tried to give them away but they were so heavy that no one could deal with them so we had to cut them up.

This one almost took out my Dypsis madagascariensis (Mahajanga).

Hauling off the fronds,

Cutting them up into managable pieces. Its incedible how heavy they are.

The machete got a workout.

[Brian]

This is the after photo. I'm very happy with how it turned out but a little sad that we couldnt relocate them.

Regards and happy palm growing!

[Jim in Los Altos]

Wow, I wouldn't have been able to do that emotionally speaking. But, if it was necessary, I guess I'd have had someone else do it while I hid in the house with my eyes shut. Hard to believe no one wanted those royals!

[Brian]

Tad,

I thought for sure my neighbors would take them since their lot is bare and they want to plant palms. I guess they gave up when they figured out that they would have to be moved by hand. A few months ago I removed some P. pacificas and some other Royals and relocated them on another lot with 100% success but the 4 above were just to big to move by hand.

Yes Jim it was emotionally hard. They were beautiful palms but I couldnt let them get any bigger otherwise they would of had to stay there which wasnt really an option.

Live and learn...

[Ken Johnson]

Did you eat the hearts? If the crowns are still around you should cut them out and have a feast!

[Tad]

a tip from Tad, befriend someone with a backhoe! !

[Brian]

Ken,

The heart was suprisingly sweet tasting. The worker had eaten it before so they were all over it.

Tad,

Your making me feel bad  I tried to get the neighbors to bring in a backhoe but they were afraid it would cause damages to my yard.  

Heres a P. Pacifica and two Royals that I relocated successfully a few months ago to a diffirent neighbor. The Pacifica took 6 guys to load it into a pick up truck. After that I knew the remaining Royals were to big to do with a pick up.

[Brian]

I forgot to post the photos.

[sonoranfans]

how sad, I'll bet alot of people would love to have those royals "blocking the view to the front of the house".

[Tad]

brian chin up, you can always grow more, and hey the crew got snack right so it was not a total loss.

I have had to chop up many palms that just couldnt be saved, to close to a foundation, street,powerline,behind walls etc.

[Kris]

Dear Brian  

first of all thanks for the step by step illustrations_i liked it !

But as tad said even iam a bit sad that they are gone..

you could have at least retained one stout trunked palm of the 2.

though iam not a die hard fan of these royals  since we have them in plenty growing here in south india.i do not have enough of real estate space to accomidate them and their falling fronds..

Okay lets bid adieu to that Royal...

thanks & love,

Kris