Three Tips To Avoid Transplant Shock During Palm Tree Relocation
by Rose Reyes
Thanks to the year-round tropical climate in Queensland, palms are a tree of choice for many gardens. However, thanks to their potential to grow tall and broad, sometimes the original planting spot for these trees does not become an ideal permanent location. If you are a homeowner who is considering relocating several palm trees with the assistance of a local tree service company, here are three tips to ensure that your palm tree settles nicely into its new spot and does not suffer potentially fatal transplant shock.
Protect The Roots
If you plan to do the digging up of the palm before relocation, you must retain as much of the original root structure as possible. Palm tree roots form as a mass under the trunk and this is called a root ball. To keep the root ball as intact as you can, measure one metre out from the base of the trunk. Then dig one metre down around the trunk. This minimises the chance of chopping through the main roots of the tree. A palm tree receives water through the old root system as the new roots grow, which is why you need to retain as much established root as possible.
Soil Protection
Trapped within the root ball is soil which has been nourishing the tree for years. The key to avoiding transplant shock is keeping the surroundings of the tree as familiar as possible, and this includes the soil it is planted into. Don't tap the soil out of the root system once it's removed in an attempt to make the tree lighter. The tree needs this existing soil to give it a sense of the familiar once it is placed into its new hole. Once the root ball is exposed and the tree is being lifted, wrap a tarp or old sheet around the roots to trap the soil during the movement process.
Water But Don't Fertilize
Once the tree service has successfully relocated your palm trees to their new spot, there are two final things you can do to reduce the chance of transplant shock. Firstly, be sure to water the palm tree every single day for the first week after it has been moved. This keeps the tree roots and the soil around it nice and moist, which encourages root growth as it settles. For the second week, you can reduce the watering to every second day, and on the third week, every third day. Secondly, do not fertilize your palm tree at this time. Fertilization encourages fast root growth, which could shock the tree. Instead, rely on the water for slow root growth, and fertilize the palm three months after it has been moved and is well established.
If you have any other concerns about your palm relocation, get advice from your tree service company.
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About Me
If you live in an old house, you might find that some of the trees in your yard are as old, or older, than your house. Trees are a great link to the past of the house, but as they get older, like any living thing, they need a little more tender loving care! I help homeowners restore and maintain the trees at their house so that they look beautiful and healthy again. If you are the proud owner of an older tree and want to make sure it retains its natural glory, keep reading for my hints and tips.