Transplanting beach sabals

[Sias]

These 2 trees are growing shockingly fast for sabals here in folly beach. But obviously I think they can’t keep growing here or there will be nothing left of our boardwalk soon. Question is, can I dig them up, and then replant them? They are growing ghe dunes under the boardwalk. 

[Fusca]

7 minutes ago, Sias said:

These 2 trees are growing shockingly fast for sabals here in folly beach. But obviously I think they can’t keep growing here or there will be nothing left of our boardwalk soon. Question is, can I dig them up, and then replant them? They are growing ghe dunes under the boardwalk. 

You can but only if you can dig around them enough to avoid damage to the underground growing point and roots.  Strap-leaf seedlings are easier to transplant but older juvenile Sabal palms are more difficult.

If you hurry you can correct the obvious autocorrect in the title!  😆

[Sias]

1 minute ago, Fusca said:

You can but only if you can dig around them enough to avoid damage to the underground growing point and roots.  Strap-leaf seedlings are easier to transplant but older juvenile Sabal palms are more difficult.

If you hurry you can correct the obvious autocorrect in the title!  😆

Haha hilarious transplanting sandals! Appreciate the auto correct correction 😎

[Ben G.]

43 minutes ago, Sias said:

These 2 trees are growing shockingly fast for sabals here in folly beach. But obviously I think they can’t keep growing here or there will be nothing left of our boardwalk soon. Question is, can I dig them up, and then replant them? They are growing ghe dunes under the boardwalk. 

It will be difficult, and your success rate may be low. On the other hand, you have little to lose. As you said, they can't keep growing where they are. Dunes are likely the easiest environment to dig them from too. Give it a shot and roll the dice. Love or die, they won't get to stay where they are forever.

[Fusca]

I transplanted this slow growing Sabal uresana back in March.  It didn't like sitting in water so I reluctantly dug it out.  After replanting it sat doing nothing for 6 months before it finally started growing again.  

Here it is today - finally pushing a new spear.

[Sias]

5 hours ago, Fusca said:

I transplanted this slow growing Sabal uresana back in March.  It didn't like sitting in water so I reluctantly dug it out.  After replanting it sat doing nothing for 6 months before it finally started growing again.  

Here it is today - finally pushing a new spear.

That’s so cool. I guess I’m just going to have to figure out where the roots are. I’m nervous to kill them. So just dig big ? 🤔

[Fusca]

1 hour ago, Sias said:

That’s so cool. I guess I’m just going to have to figure out where the roots are. I’m nervous to kill them. So just dig big ? 🤔

Yeah, you can see with my Sabal uresana seedling it's about a 2-gal sized palm with the roots.  I dug about a 10-gal sized hole not knowing how deep the roots were.  Your palms look bigger than mine - maybe 5 or 7-gal?  Shouldn't be a big effort to dig in sand though.  I'd start out at least a foot away from the base in all directions so that you can go deep without slicing through roots.  Good luck!  👍

[SeanK]

I would wait until March 15th. Around March 1st, dig a circle about 12" radius from the base. Come back in two weeks and remove. In the meantime, get a bottle of rooting hormone powder.

[Allen]

Low success rate as any roots cut will die back and have to regrow.  For highest success when palm is growing and temps approach 80F plus dig a third around palm cutting roots and wait a couple months for these roots to start regrowing then either attempt transplant or better yet do another 1/3 cut and wait

[JLM]

I would also look into local laws and sand dune protections. They may not be able to be touched.

 

If after that research you think it should be fine, sabals are hard to transplant. Good luck!

[Sias]

On 1/2/2026 at 10:32 AM, Allen said:

Low success rate as any roots cut will die back and have to regrow.  For highest success when palm is growing and temps approach 80F plus dig a third around palm cutting roots and wait a couple months for these roots to start regrowing then either attempt transplant or better yet do another 1/3 cut and wait

Interesting. I believe this is the nuanced information I was looking for. But when you say cut 1/3  am not sure what that means. 

[Allen]

3 hours ago, Sias said:

Interesting. I believe this is the nuanced information I was looking for. But when you say cut 1/3  am not sure what that means. 

For transplanting Sabal palms:
Use a long shovel to sever the roots on approximately one-third to one-half of the circumference of the plant. Leave the remaining roots intact on the opposite side so they can continue to support the palm. This staged approach allows new roots to regenerate and extend several inches from the root initiation zone before the palm is fully dug. Because Sabal roots die back completely when cut, this advance root pruning gives the palm a critical head start and greatly improves transplant success.

Why Sabal roots die back when severed

• Palm roots do not branch or heal like woody plant roots. Each root grows from the trunk’s root-initiation zone and extends outward as a single, unbranched structure.

• All growth occurs at the root tip. When a Sabal root is cut, the growing tip is destroyed, and that root can no longer elongate or regenerate.

• The entire cut root becomes nonfunctional. Unlike oaks or maples, palms cannot produce lateral roots behind the cut; the severed root simply dies back.

• New roots must be grown from the trunk, not the cut root. Sabals respond by initiating entirely new roots from the base of the trunk, which takes time and energy.

Why this matters for transplanting

• If all roots are cut at once, the palm temporarily has no functional root system, leading to severe stress or failure.

• Staged root pruning works because uncut roots continue water and nutrient uptake while new roots are forming from the trunk.

• Giving Sabal palms time to generate new roots before full digging dramatically improves survival, especially for small un-trunked specimens with less than 6' of trunk.

[Sias]

1 hour ago, Allen said:

For transplanting Sabal palms:
Use a long shovel to sever the roots on approximately one-third to one-half of the circumference of the plant. Leave the remaining roots intact on the opposite side so they can continue to support the palm. This staged approach allows new roots to regenerate and extend several inches from the root initiation zone before the palm is fully dug. Because Sabal roots die back completely when cut, this advance root pruning gives the palm a critical head start and greatly improves transplant success.

Why Sabal roots die back when severed

• Palm roots do not branch or heal like woody plant roots. Each root grows from the trunk’s root-initiation zone and extends outward as a single, unbranched structure.

• All growth occurs at the root tip. When a Sabal root is cut, the growing tip is destroyed, and that root can no longer elongate or regenerate.

• The entire cut root becomes nonfunctional. Unlike oaks or maples, palms cannot produce lateral roots behind the cut; the severed root simply dies back.

• New roots must be grown from the trunk, not the cut root. Sabals respond by initiating entirely new roots from the base of the trunk, which takes time and energy.

Why this matters for transplanting

• If all roots are cut at once, the palm temporarily has no functional root system, leading to severe stress or failure.

• Staged root pruning works because uncut roots continue water and nutrient uptake while new roots are forming from the trunk.

• Giving Sabal palms time to generate new roots before full digging dramatically improves survival, especially for small un-trunked specimens with less than 6' of trunk.

Fantastic information. Thank you for this. I can see why I've always failed at this before. Maybe this will give them a fighting chance!

[Allen]

3 minutes ago, Sias said:

Fantastic information. Thank you for this. I can see why I've always failed at this before. Maybe this will give them a fighting chance!

Another alternative is to dig them and pot them in greenhouse conditions under intensive care for 1-2 years before planting

[Sias]

On 1/2/2026 at 12:28 PM, JLM said:

I would also look into local laws and sand dune protections. They may not be able to be touched.

 

If after that research you think it should be fine, sabals are hard to transplant. Good luck!

I may have used the term dunes too loosely. Its just very sandy but it is on the residential side before you get to the "real" dunes. I was trying to get the point across that they are in sandy salty terrain.

[Sias]

18 hours ago, Allen said:

Another alternative is to dig them and pot them in greenhouse conditions under intensive care for 1-2 years before planting

If I do the 1/3 - wait - 1/3 wait and then dig, after doing the cuts do I need to give them extra water consistently each time?

[Allen]

4 minutes ago, Sias said:

If I do the 1/3 - wait - 1/3 wait and then dig, after doing the cuts do I need to give them extra water consistently each time?

Not quite sure what this means but just water normally if it is dry

[Sias]

On 1/1/2026 at 9:10 PM, SeanK said:

I would wait until March 15th. Around March 1st, dig a circle about 12" radius from the base. Come back in two weeks and remove. In the meantime, get a bottle of rooting hormone powder.

What rooting powder would I use and how would I apply it?

[PalmatierMeg]

The usual proviso for transplanting Sabals is not until they have 4-6' of clear trunk, which neither of those seem to have. Until then Sabals have a large, deep-growing underground stem that shatters when subjected to shovels. You would need to use a large earth moving machine that can dig low and wide to pull each palm out of the ground. Not a good idea if you have a sidewalk/boardwalk you want to keep. I'm not trying to discourage you from taking the shovel route but be aware of the risks. A chain saw might solve your problem with less angst.

[Las Palmas Norte]

1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said:

... A chain saw might solve your problem with less angst.

Curious. What would the chainsaw be used for in this case?

[ZPalms]

other option is modify the deck stilt so the palm remains 😂

[PalmatierMeg]

21 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

Curious. What would the chainsaw be used for in this case?

Eliminate both Sabals in seconds.

[Jeff zone 8 N.C.]

All others have given good advice but if you are determined to dig these then another method that works well in sand and that would be easier and reduce root damage (which is absolutely crucial) would be to not dig your hole around the root ball at all.  Choose a spot beside but at least 2 to 2 1/2 feet away from the plants. Dig a deep hole with a volume considerably larger than what you would have to dig to get all the way around the plant to get it it out.  The roots may be down 3 feet or so. Dig under the plants to be moved hopefully not cutting any roots. If you cut roots your hole is not deep enough. After finishing this hole begin to cave the sand around the plant into your dug hole. Having a water hose to wash the sand away and keep the roots moist will make it easier as well as more successful.  You should already have your new planting location or pot and soil ready so you can replant quickly. If you are planting in a pot you will need one larger than you think because folding the roots, into the pot, is not good either.

[Las Palmas Norte]

22 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Eliminate both Sabals in seconds.

It does seem like the more logical plan, although wouldn't these just grow again if bucked off at ground level since the central growth point is subterranean? Saving a common palm is a noble idea but hardly worth the trouble when success is negligible. I am speaking of course from an older mans perspective. 😁