Several palm tree species reside in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, from pygmy date palms (Phoenix roebelenii) to sabal palms (Sabal palmetto). Gardeners often line walkways and group these exquisite trees into tropical oases throughout their gardens. However, revising an existing palm landscape requires tree removal for a completely different yard aesthetic. Removing a palm tree without killing it requires attention to digging and care details to keep the plant healthy.
Remove palm trees that are young and immature during the spring and early summer. Young trees less than 10 feet tall are easier to remove compared to a larger specimen.
Water the buried root ball. Saturate the soil that extends 3 feet away from the palm's trunk; you want to keep the root ball damp for easier removal and to prevent excessive stress on the plant.
Insert a mechanical spade into the soil approximately 3 feet away from the tree's trunk. Carefully dig into the soil as you circle around the palm's trunk. Use caution when inserting the tool into the ground; do not strike any roots that are still within the 3 foot space close to the trunk. Preserving these roots close to the palm allows the tree to recover from the removal stress without the threat of dieback.
Slide a piece of burlap under the root ball after you unearth the soil surrounding the tree trunk. Ask a friend to help maneuver the burlap under the roots while stabilizing the trunk above with your hands.
Grasp the burlap on both sides of the tree, and pull the tree out of the hole. Have a friend help you with the lifting if the palm is especially heavy.
Carefully lay the tree down on its side alongside the open hole.
Cut fronds off from the lower crown using pruning shears while the tree remains horizontal on the ground. You need to remove approximately half of the crown's leaves to prevent excessive transpiration during transplanting. Loss of water through the leaves harms the tree and stifles its recovery.
Secure the newer and healthier fronds together using biodegradable twine, much like forming a ponytail hairstyle.
Wrap the root ball with the burlap. Tie the burlap to the tree's trunk using biodegradable twine. Do not tie it too tightly; allow some looseness to protect the tree's outside trunk layer.
Water the covered root ball with enough water to moisten the root area and the trapped soil around it. The burlap itself should feel moist, but not to the point of it dripping constantly with water droplets. Transplant the palm immediately for the best success at recovery.
Things You Will Need
- Mechanical spade
- Pruning shears
- Biodegradable twine
- Do not remove your palm tree during the cooler months between late fall and the end of winter. This dormant period makes it difficult for roots to acclimate to the transplant and new location. Removing the tree in spring or summer allows the tree to establish itself during the growing season.
- Do not attempt to remove a mature palm tree, such as a queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana). With a possible 50-foot height, tall palms injure people easily with their hefty weight. Call a professional tree removal company for trees larger than 10 feet tall.
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