Do these palm trees look normal?

[easyroc75]

Hello.  I am a homeowner in Southern California and I know nothing about palm trees.  I just noticed that the bottom of my palm trees looks strange.   I think trees are called queen palms and are about 30-40 high.  Will these tree fall over, especially when the wind is high?  How can I fix this?  

[Jonathan]

All good...just adventitious roots trying to grow out from the top of the root system. If you were to mound a bit of compost and mulch around the base the roots would grow out into it and make the palms happy!

[Harry’s Palms]

Your palms look healthy . The soil looks crusty . I would amend that soil and break through the crust to mix in some good top soil . Then mound up as stated above and use wood chips to keep soil in place . Harry

‘The Queen Palm ( darker trunk) has the same condition . I used wood chips after amending the soil around the base ( lighter trunk Royal Palm) . Use a claw to break up existing crust , then add amendment, and then the wood chips . This will allow the roots easier access to water and nutrients and the water can be absorbed and retained around the palms. This is especially helpful in the dry , hotter climates of summer and fall. Harry

edit: I live in an area that is prone to some very high winds ( Santa Ana winds) in the Fall. No problem with these guys and they are very tall!

[Merlyn]

@easyroc75 welcome to Palmtalk!  As the others mentioned, that's normal "adventitious roots" growing near the bottom and causing the lower part of the trunk to flare out.  Here's a tutorial written by an IPS Director:

http://www.marriedtoplants.com/palms/palm-tree-growing-tips-mounding/

 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Also, tree trimmers using spiked boots have poked lots of holes in those trunks. Don’t let that happen anymore. A ladder and correct tree climbing harnesses only.  

[easyroc75]

Thank you for everyone that replied.  Maybe this is not a good angle so I'll get some more pictures soon.  But it seems the roots are receding and the tree looks like it is about to topple over?

I used to have a lot of wood chips around the trees but it's gone now.  The trees creates a lot of those little yellow seeds (?) and drops them on the wood chips.  I think every time the gardener cleans them, they sweep up the wood chips as well lol

[Merlyn]

@easyroc75 my guess is that the palm grew a bunch of adventitious roots when there was mulch present.  Then when the gardener took the mulch away (a bad idea) the roots dried out and became brittle.  A couple of passes with a weedwhacker (also a bad idea) chopped off those roots.  Loosing the outer adventitious roots isn't good for the palm's health, but it also won't let it topple over unless you are expecting something like 100+ mph winds.  Queens are known for falling over in Florida hurricanes. 

The entire bottom center of the palm is a dense mass of ~1/8" diameter roots.  So there are probably hundreds of small roots going downward in the center.  Here's a Queen that I cut down in my yard.  The entire base that I cut through with the reciprocating saw was solid roots.

Here's a cropped section showing the cut roots and a couple that I missed cutting:

[easyroc75]

Thank you Meryn!

[easyroc75]

Thank you everyone for making me less paranoid of this tree falling over.  Here are two better pictures of the two trees.  Please let me know FOR sure they won't fall over lol.  You guys are awesome!!

 

My next step is to buy mulch to cover the roots.  

[Las Palmas Norte]

You're right in that it doesn't look a stable as one might wish they were. I'm certainly no expert, but this is common to some extent.

[happypalms]

The palm in the last picture near the trailer wheels looks like it was planted to high above ground. I have seen them snap at that root level, with only a thin core section holding it up. A good storm may see it topple over,  but as it free standing and holding itself up it’s fine. Nothing to be to alarmed about just dont park the Ferrari under it or the mega yacht in a big storm. 

[easyroc75]

I have a Lambo but that's a different story haha.  I will put soil and woodchips there like everyone said.  Thank you all!