Australian weather can be so volatile. One moment you're basking in the sun, and the next minute there's a ferocious thunderstorm surrounding your home. When we moved to our first property, we had a near-miss when part of a tree came down during a storm. Luckily, it missed our house, but it did flatten my gorgeous rose garden. Tree maintenance is very important in Australia, and my blog deals with all the different ways you can maintain the health of your trees. From pruning to identifying tree rot, find out how to look after your trees, so they don't come tumbling down when the winds pick up.
How to Take Your Palm Tree with You When You Move
If you're planning to move to a larger property, you may find it difficult to leave some of those special memories behind and wish that you could take them with you. Sometimes this is not practical, while other times it may be possible with a bit of effort. If you've really fallen in love with your palm trees, then you may be considering a transplant. How difficult is this to achieve and can you do it yourself?
Easier Than Most
Some types of palm tree can grow to quite a considerable size, but in general they are a lot easier to move from one point to another than another species of tree. Their root systems tend to be more contained and have a "ball" structure and you can typically dig it up in one piece to move to your new place.
Things to Consider
Much will depend on the size of the tree itself and how much help you have on hand. Smaller versions can be moved if you have three or four willing helpers and the right type of transportation. Larger trees will almost certainly require a professional palm relocation service to help due to the trees' weight and needing to be looked after properly during the journey.
Removal
Before you begin, make sure that you have watered the area around the base of the tree extensively, but then trace a circle a metre out from the base and all around the circumference. Dig down so that you expose the root ball and carefully tilt the tree over as you continue to dig. You will need to cut through some of the roots as this is unavoidable, but most of the structure will be contained if you do it properly.
Journey
Try to wrap a cloth around the root ball and soak this in water for the rest of the journey. You will need to load the tree carefully to your chosen form of transportation and don't delay any longer than you need to before setting off on the trip.
Placement
When you get to your new location, excavate a hole that is equally as deep as the root ball and fill it with water. Place the tree carefully and compact the soil all around it while adding fertiliser to the mix. You will need to erect some stabilising planks of wood at four different points around the tree and you should tie the fronds to the trunk so that they don't get caught in the wind. All of these measures should help the tree to take root as quickly as possible as it remains in the upright position.
Asking for Help
If you have a much larger tree to deal with, then you should certainly leave this to the professionals. Don't underestimate the weight, nor the difficulty of replanting the tree at its final destination. After all, you may need a mechanical device to get it upright and a special compacting machine to help with placement.