this MI boy surely knows nothing about these 3 plants ... but i have 2 observations ...

first.. i highly doubt you could dig out one of the palms due to all the root competition .... .. so whats to do .. other than killing it.. trying ...

second.. generally ....when you cut a tree root ... the tree responds by growing new feeder roots at the cut ... so though you make the current root disappear ...[outta sight.. outta mind]... in the long run... you may only be making the situation worse ...

ken

Hi, thank you.

I am not thinking about digging the palms up. Now if becomes clear to me that the palms won't be able to make it, then my only solution is to cut the palms off at the base. I wouldn't try to excavate around the roots to save it. I am sure the shaving brush tree roots are tangled with the palm roots and that effort would be futile.

As for the strangle fig roots, I am not quite sure what to do yet. So far I have been cutting it where I see them, sometimes I will dig a little to get back further and cut it closer, but it has spread everywhere and quite out of control.

Having done my mom's gardening down there for some years, I can state that the palm won't suffer. Some palms, like a Royal Palm prefer solitude, but the Cabbage palm types will grow under a car. I vote with krnuttle, enjoy the shade.

Add: Anything you can do to a strangler fig won't phase it, short or cutting it and grinding the stump. They are now illegal to plant in some communities in SoFL. Guess why?

I agreed with the others that the tree and 2 palms should be okay left alone. If there were to be a problem you'll notice a decline in their health.

Ficus roots go a long way. There's nothing you can do about it. Trimming roots is extremely short term.

Other forms of competition there are blockage of light, and physical interference.

Cut off the rightwards trunk.

I see palms and trees growing together all the time and looking perfectly fine. Often times in fact I see them looking better than free standing specimens. I've even seen fully grown palms 80' tall right up against massive oaks, seemingly cuddling each other. Many palms benefit from dappled shade, especially while young. It's how they grow in nature.