How would you move this massive ponytail palm?

[Fresnotropics]

I've become a bit obsessed with beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm) and want to try and transplant some of these MASSIVE ones I see for free from time to time online.

For those of you who have experience:

How would you move this? The easiest way would seem to be semi-excavation and then have a crane pull it out, transport in a flatbed, and then crane into place.

Are there any other practical options? Winch/rollers/ramp into a low trailer? 

[Kokioula]

I’ve seen large plants dug and relocated, with rather small root system remaining. They also prune well and grow back multiple points from each cut. Moving large plants is a fun challenge!

[SeanK]

I think you'll need a crane. I will only add that I would begin a few weeks early and root prune.

[N8ALLRIGHT]

Man I think you could do it with a trailer.  Ideally a dump trailer and a winch. I wonder if a tow truck would move it for you.? It would certainly cost less than a boom truck. Bring some decent size nylon chokers.  Ponytails have shallow roots from what I've read. Maybe root prune to about a foot deep? Then take a Sawzall and cut as far under the plant as you can.  Then you'd probably have to get some strong pry bars to pop it up,with some more Sawzall action. Once free,  rig to your winch and trailer or call your tow truck.  Bring a couple of strong friends as well.  It can be done, but it will be work .

Good luck from another guy who does stuff the hard way 👍

[N8ALLRIGHT]

I think you would want a flatbed or rollback like this 

[Merlyn]

@Fresnotropics they are relatively easy to move, just heavy.  They have thin, fibrous roots mostly around the perimeter, and only sit about 2-4 inches deep in the ground.  Think of them as looking like an elephant's foot...broad and flat bottomed and stomped into the dirt a couple of inches.  I moved two big ones (a lot smaller than the one in your photo) with just myself and a friend and a horse trailer.  We dragged two into the trailer like this:

The second one I planted in the SE corner of my yard...and 2 years later decided to move it.  So I dug around the perimeter, rocked it up to break the few roots underneath, and "walked" it onto a 4x8 to tow it over to the other corner.  I moved this myself with (some) help from my wife:

The inside of the base is not "wood," it's more of a spongy water-holding loose fiber.  What you want to avoid is any severe damage to the outside skin.  I had a tree guy taking down a 60 foot oak tree and one of the pieces bounced when it fell and took a chunk out of the ponytail. 

I sprayed some fungicide on it, and dusted it with sulfur powder regularly for several months.  It finally healed up and created a new inner skin.  The wound was about 4.5 years ago and it's growing fine.

In general I think several strong guys could do it with a flatbed towtruck with a winch...or if you are brave a Uhaul trailer with a come-along.  Just try not to drag it across concrete as it might rip up the bottom of the "skin" and cause later rot.  We walked ours on a layer of dirt, grass, or horse straw so it slid around remarkably easy.  But the one in the photo might weigh 1000-2000lb so it isn't as easy as the ~500lb ones I moved.

[SeanK]

37 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

@Fresnotropics they are relatively easy to move, just heavy.  They have thin, fibrous roots mostly around the perimeter, and only sit about 2-4 inches deep in the ground.  Think of them as looking like an elephant's foot...broad and flat bottomed and stomped into the dirt a couple of inches.  I moved two big ones (a lot smaller than the one in your photo) with just myself and a friend and a horse trailer.  We dragged two into the trailer like this:

The second one I planted in the SE corner of my yard...and 2 years later decided to move it.  So I dug around the perimeter, rocked it up to break the few roots underneath, and "walked" it onto a 4x8 to tow it over to the other corner.  I moved this myself with (some) help from my wife:

The inside of the base is not "wood," it's more of a spongy water-holding loose fiber.  What you want to avoid is any severe damage to the outside skin.  I had a tree guy taking down a 60 foot oak tree and one of the pieces bounced when it fell and took a chunk out of the ponytail. 

I sprayed some fungicide on it, and dusted it with sulfur powder regularly for several months.  It finally healed up and created a new inner skin.  The wound was about 4.5 years ago and it's growing fine.

In general I think several strong guys could do it with a flatbed towtruck with a winch...or if you are brave a Uhaul trailer with a come-along.  Just try not to drag it across concrete as it might rip up the bottom of the "skin" and cause later rot.  We walked ours on a layer of dirt, grass, or horse straw so it slid around remarkably easy.  But the one in the photo might weigh 1000-2000lb so it isn't as easy as the ~500lb ones I moved.

With this method, drop it on a plastic tarp and move the tarp.

[Merlyn]

4 hours ago, SeanK said:

With this method, drop it on a plastic tarp and move the tarp.

Yeah, that could definitely work.  You could probably rock it back and forth to get the tarp underneath, and then drag it.  The tarp would get torn up, but may protect the underside of the ponytail.  In my method I just cut two holes in the 4x8 and wrapped a tow strap through each one to my tow bar.  You could also get it on the tarp and wrap a tow strap all the way around it, then winch it up onto a trailer with a come-along or electric winch.