We've just planted several 30 gallon Queen Palms with 4 inch trunk diameters. The fronds start branching from the trunk at around 4 feet high and the fronds extend to a height of around 12 feet. They are in a location that can be windy so we thought some support might be necessary. On one of the palms we constructed a typical palm brace with burlap and wood blocks attached to stakes in the ground. The palm is certainly secure, but it really looks like scaffolding covering this little palm. I think this kind of brace is a little over-the-top for such a small palm. Are there any other alternatives to the wooden-block palm tree brace? What about just using rope supports tied down to stakes with burlap protecting the trunks? Is this a recommeneded practice?
Any advise and/or suggestions are appreciated.
staking newly planted palm trees
The City of San Jose, CA has put up hundreds of palm trees. If there's room, the city uses the typical palm bracing. But in certain areas, mainly because there is no room for it, they use 2 typical tree supports, placed so provide support against prevailing wind directions.
I have seen many hundreds of Queen palms, some quite tall, put up here in Los Angeles with minimal support- usually none. THey just get a deep root ball and dig a deep hole just barely wide enough for the root ball, which is only 6" wider than the base of the trunk itself, and plop the palm in... done. No stakes, no nothing. Anyway, haven't seen any blown over queen palms, and we get some pretty hefty winds in the fall.. of course, most plantings are done in spring, so by fall these palms have roots in the ground already.