That house is ex display home so we know the palm was transplanted.
Now I'll have to expose some myths coz I see way too much bad transplanting of palms based on BS more than logic.
MYTH: Palms dont need much root ball as cut roots dont branch out but die back to the stem.
TRUTH: Many species do branch out providing the cut is clean and sharp. Canariensis is prolific at branching. However that said, some palms like the Sabal palmetto (Cabbage palm) do not branch and rely upon new roots growing.
MYTH: A 30cm to 45cm root ball is plenty.
TRUTH: At 60cm to 1m radius root ball will result in maximum root branching.
MYTH: Cutting roots before transplanting promotes new root growth and better survival.
TRUTH: Whilst the above may be true for dicotyledons there is no supportive evidence of such for monocotyledons. New hair like roots may well be damaged during the transplant.
MYTH: Root stimulating hormone treatment helps grow new roots.
TRUTH: Whilst the above may be true for dicotyledons research shows little to no benefit in palms.
MYTH: To assist with transplant and reduce water loss 50% to 75% of leaves are removed and the balance tied up.
TRUTH: Whilst the tying up of leaves helps reduce damage the removal of green leaves inhibits new shoot growth.
MYTH: You can plant the palms deeper (grade change).
TRUTH: Studies have found survival rates diminish, maintain original grade.
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Other things to consider, a canopy mist spray, continual moisture for root area, decent backfill without air gaps and fissures, mulch well.
So we had die back of cut roots, no new roots, poorly backfilled with air gaps and fissures and perhaps no water during a drought. The proximity of the air gaps means it was a small root ball. (quite typical)
Also, the hole that was dug wasn't exactly prepared well with a mix of new nice soil and existing soil ... it was tough shaly clay on a building site ... hardly the most inviting growing medium. It was like it was plonked there and had mulch dumped around it.
Now do your research, look on the net at some of the transplanting palm people and you'll see to this day the above myths mentioned in there "biblical speils". Look at the pics and you'll see tiny root balls, hardly any leaves, sometimes weeks pass before they are dropped into their holes, watering systems in adequate.
What nobody likes to mention is their death rate, it can take up to 2 years for the palms to establish and just as long to die.
Here's a classic pic I took of the new featured palms at the Logan Hyperdome. I live nearby and watched this debacle, what a dumb idea and they had tiny root balls. Then they built around them ... yes, the palms went in then the buildings went up. Would have been a bugger of a removal getting the dead one out.
So goes to show, dont think coz you are spending $10k on your new palm all is OK. Some make guarantees, but read the fine print, at the end of the day common sense prevails ... the more leaves the better
... the bigger the root ball the better, but dont go too big or when they lift the palm by the trunk they could break/damage many roots, best would be palms that have done a stint in a container prior.
Sources, PDF attached and
Transplanting Palms plus seeing so many transplants die!