Transplanting 10 foot washingotnia robusta

[KsLouisiana]

I have a 10' mexican fan palm that I want to transplant...but not if it's going to kill it. I dont hate where it's at, but it's in the back corner of our property.  I want to put it right in front by the porch if possible.  So my question is would it transplant well? Has anyone ever done it or read about it? I know the nurseries transplant them. Is it too much work without a skidsteer? Any tips would be appreciated! I hope y'all like the drawing I made....

[Jim in Los Altos]

They generally transplant very well, even with a small root ball. Spring would be a good time for the move or now if temps are reliably mild. The palm will be quite heavy so be ready for that. You’ll need to water it daily for a few months while it replaces lost roots.

[JohnAndSancho]

I was gonna bust out the "graphic design is my passion" meme but ngl that's actually not bad lol. 

[KsLouisiana]

Thanks Jim! I think im going to do it. Instead of planting a small one and waiting. I've transplanted sabals and they're pretty fool proof. Temps are around 80 during the day, so it may be perfect timing. And I will bring backup hahaha. The root ball definitely adds a ton of weight.

[KsLouisiana]

2 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I was gonna bust out the "graphic design is my passion" meme but ngl that's actually not bad lol. 

I was going to use chatgpt but this was easier lol

[JohnAndSancho]

30 minutes ago, KsLouisiana said:

I was going to use chatgpt but this was easier lol

Respect for keeping it real. Ngl I've used AI for research but every day I hate it a little more. 

[KsLouisiana]

15 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Respect for keeping it real. Ngl I've used AI for research but every day I hate it a little more. 

Its awful. Probably going to lose my job at some point because of it. But it's fun for some things

[JohnAndSancho]

19 minutes ago, KsLouisiana said:

Its awful. Probably going to lose my job at some point because of it. But it's fun for some things

I am not going to say what I want to say, Palmtalk has always been free of political banter and I love this site for that, and I'm not gonna start now and I'll just leave it at that. I'd rather ask a robot a question than sift through 100 pages of 1990s era plant forums, but there's a lot of things I don't think they should be doing. And they're doing them. 

 

Anyway yeah dude, I think the Washy will do good there and I think the water runoff from your gutters will be good for it. I know at least one of the babies in my yard is dead, and if the other one lives I should probably move it - but it's a lot smaller. It's maybe knee high. 

[KsLouisiana]

2 minutes ago, JohnAndSancho said:

I am not going to say what I want to say, Palmtalk has always been free of political banter and I love this site for that, and I'm not gonna start now and I'll just leave it at that. I'd rather ask a robot a question than sift through 100 pages of 1990s era plant forums, but there's a lot of things I don't think they should be doing. And they're doing them. 

 

Anyway yeah dude, I think the Washy will do good there and I think the water runoff from your gutters will be good for it. I know at least one of the babies in my yard is dead, and if the other one lives I should probably move it - but it's a lot smaller. It's maybe knee high. 

Thanks! Yeah It's the biggest Washingtonia I have so it would be a shame if it doesn't make it. But it might be worth the risk. This thing was only knee high 4 years ago so they're amazing growers. Get a small one and watch it shoot up! 

[JohnAndSancho]

7 minutes ago, KsLouisiana said:

Thanks! Yeah It's the biggest Washingtonia I have so it would be a shame if it doesn't make it. But it might be worth the risk. This thing was only knee high 4 years ago so they're amazing growers. Get a small one and watch it shoot up! 

I had one on my patio in Tx I named Dirty Sanchez and more and more I regret not bringing that one with me. I mean, I regret not bringing a lot of stuff with me, but it was shaded so it was short and stumpy and in a very large very flimsy pot. I dunno if it woulda survived last winter, we hit 9 degrees, but it'd easily be 7 feet tall by now getting more sun. 

 

I need to get back into naming my plants. There was some real comedy there. 

[Harry’s Palms]

I’ve never dug one up that size but it will be a bit of work and very heavy. They transplant well and are quick to rebound . Someone in my neighborhood literally ripped a small one out of the ground and left it in a 5gallon bucket in my courtyard in case I wanted it . I really didn’t but I appreciated the gesture and stuck it in the ground at the bottom of our hike . It took off like a rocket . Harry

[KsLouisiana]

32 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I’ve never dug one up that size but it will be a bit of work and very heavy. They transplant well and are quick to rebound . Someone in my neighborhood literally ripped a small one out of the ground and left it in a 5gallon bucket in my courtyard in case I wanted it . I really didn’t but I appreciated the gesture and stuck it in the ground at the bottom of our hike . It took off like a rocket . Harry

I think im going to just muscle it up into my tacoma and drive it to the new spot. It or just drag it with a tow strap lol. But im really happy to hear they transplant well. I don't have any experience with that.  Thanks!

[KsLouisiana]

Oh man. The AI did a good job. I'm digging it up tomorrow