Palmetto question

20 years ago

I planted a palmetto a few weeks ago. east Austin, clay soil beneath a new raised bed - landscape fabric between the clay and the topsoil - except for the hole cut for the palmetto. It was a large pot - so the hole is through the raised bed (topsoil) - through the landscape fabric - and into the clay by ~ 3-4 inches. Dappled shade all day. I water it ~ every 3-4 days. The outer leaves are brown and dried out. I think this is normal transplant shock, but it's my first attempt any type of palm - so I'm really just guessing. What is "normal" for a newly transplanted palmetto? Am I over watering? I'm not sure the exact name of it, but it's one that Palmetto state park was named after, and it should get about 6' tall x 6' wide.

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Comments (7)

rlriffle_FL_zone10
20 years ago
Palmetto State Park was named for the Sabal minor (NOT S. palmetto) that are a relic species in that location.

They are almost universally agreed as being quite difficult to transplant. How did you obtain it? If you dug it up from the wild the chances for its survival from transplant are quite low.
garden1701
Original Author
20 years ago
It was purchased from a local garden center.
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alex_7b
19 years ago
How did it go with the Sabal? By now it probably looks good.
topher2006
19 years ago
RLRIFFLE

Have you ever dug a dwarf palmetto up or are you just going by what you have heard ?

Their chances for survival quite good if you

1. Don't scar the rootball or trunk with your
digging instrument

2. Dig deep enough that you get under the rootball and roots which some are pretty deep and then work all the way around careful not to cut the roots or any part of the plant

3. make sure you have plenty of soil on the roots and
the rootball in other words get all the dirt or mud on top
to stay by digging under it.

4. wrap it up with a plastic bag for transport..

I HAVE PERSONALLY DUG 4 UP AND HAVE NOT LOST ANY...
Most people just arent easy when they dig them
you can't just pop them out of the ground they are
native where we are and can be dug if you know what your doing !
donray
19 years ago
topher
Mr Riffle will not respond to you because he passed away not long after his last post here. He was an author of a couple books on palms and was one of the most knowledgable people about palms you could have ever met. You can still check out his journal if you would like. He shared with a lot of us before you joined the forum.
alex_7b
19 years ago
topher,

The tone of your post is a bit condescending. RLR helped quite a few of the folks here, via postings, email and the lucky few who met him personally.
topher2006
19 years ago
Sorry about this i didn't mean anything negative ..

I was not being disrespectful it's just that everyone
says dwarf palmettos wont transplant and because of this
no one will even try i was simply letting everyone know it is possible.. because i've done it.
again no disrespect to any one especially mister ripple
just stating my opinion sorry about my tone.