Moving a small Canary Palm

[GMann]

I may need to move this Canary Palm about 3 or 4 feet closer to the street to put in a circular driveway. How big of a hole do you think I will need to dig? How big and wide? Will it survive the move?  
 

The palm has a little under 2 foot of trunk and it may not be a pure Canary, maybe it’s a hybrid so a little smaller? It just produced some tiny fruit for the first time. 

[Harry’s Palms]

I hate to tell you but Phoenix palms have massive root systems ! It can be done , you may need help . They survive transplant well but it is the wrong time of year , at least around here. In theory , the roots reach out equal distant to the size of the crown. That means a large hole with a lot of digging. If done with care , it will survive.

I would start at least 2-3’ out from base of trunk , you will probably cut through some roots . Try to keep it minimal. Harry

[GMann]

Thank you. How deep will I have to go? Id rather have the destination hole already dug, or at least mostly dug before pulling it so as to minimize the time the roots are exposed, so I need to anticipate the depth too. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Depth can vary with the type of soil you have and how long it has been in the ground. Harry

[GMann]

I planted it about 6 or 7 years ago, I think it was in a 7 or 15 gallon container then. The soil is very rocky and hard to dig once you get about 6 inches down. You need a pick axe at that point to break up the rocks. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Then you will need that pick axe! I dug out and moved a Phoenix Roebilini double that was only three feet tall . It took me two hours . It survived and is still growing , 25 years later. Was it worth it ? Probably not , but I have a story to tell . The homeowner was going to cut it down so I brought it home . Harry

[Tropical Toni]

8 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Then you will need that pick axe! I dug out and moved a Phoenix Roebilini double that was only three feet tall . It took me two hours . It survived and is still growing , 25 years later. Was it worth it ? Probably not , but I have a story to tell . The homeowner was going to cut it down so I brought it home . Harry

Harry let's see a photo !

[Harry’s Palms]

In between rain squalls! Moved it here at least 25 years ago. I cut quite a few roots but it survived. Harry

The fence is about 6’ tall , the palms had just about a foot or so of trunk. We had a viscous storm last night with howling winds . The trunks are much stronger than they appear. Harry

[Las Palmas Norte]

17 hours ago, GMann said:

... You need a pick axe at that point to break up the rocks. 

You're gonna need a small back hoe to unearth and move that. It's going to be an excessive weight to move out of the hole and into the new location. Save your back and also avoid a hernia.