Transplanting Date Palm Trees

indep14

I am re-posting the thread with better pictures. I have deleted the earlier thread. Please advice me for following.

Two months back I transplanted two 9 feet tall date palm trees in my house, one seems fine and green, but the other has less green leaves. Recent pictures are attached. Please tell me following :

1. Have the trees survived the transplant, especially the one with less number of leaves and less green in colour ?
2. After how much time new leaves are expected to emerge ?
3. How often must I water them ?
4. Would they bear fruit next year ?

Attached Thumbnails

     

Eric Frei

1. It can take years for them to die, often they die in the 2nd year
2. Depends on season and health, but 6 months should have a sign of something growing or dying for that matter
3. Depends on soil, season, additives etc ... but keeping it moist should be the objective, how you achieve that is called expertise and experience.
4. Who knows, will they be alive or dead etc?

Some info here for you.

Palm Transplanting| Phoenix canariensis| Canary Island Date Palm in Brisbane dead?

Brisbane City council $14000 of palms drowned

canary island install help

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Eden Keeper

1. So far they have, which is good. I have a few in pots that have survived conditions most other plants wouldn't.
2. I've heard one leaf is produced per month in idea conditions, but mine have been much slower.
3. Generally deep infrequent watering is best although I'm still uncertain about what is best for date palms.
4. I found where they were big enough although it may take 4-8 years from being transplanted. Additionally they have to be female with either a male nearby for pollination or a reported parthenocarpic variety that produces smaller inferior fruit without pollination.

indep14

I have uploaded pics taken today of both date palm trees. It is just one tree I am concerned about and I have taken most of it's pics. I transplanted both trees on 5 July 2011.

I would be grateful if some one can tell if the tree has survived the transplant ??

Attached Thumbnails

           

       

indep14

It has been 6 months since transplanting these two date palm trees but as yet new leavers have not emerged. I had not applied fertilizer in them except a month ago (used NPK fertilizer 20, 20, 20). I water them once a week and I live in Karachi Pakistan. Can anyone please help me answer following :-

1. When are new leaves expected to emerge ?
2. How can I know if the trees have survived transplanting ?
3. How often should I apply fertilizer in them, which fertilizer should be used ?

Eric Frei

In my experience they will grow most when temps are over 25C.

In my experience they are hungry for fertilizer and the 20:20:20 is strong and at the top end but should be a slow release osmocote style. Also there should be some trace elements.

The NPK ratio of around 15:10:15 would be ideal in a slow release applied 3 monthly.

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Jeffrey Lovstrom

Couple of problem's I see,
You planted them too deep and in a well.
Too close together.
Too many frond's cut off.
Jeff

indep14

@Jeffswede

I have not planted them in a well, that is my (house's) front lawn. I had removed the grass to get rid of weeds may be making it look like a well, moreover this picture was shot immediately after a rain spell.

They are four feet apart and I had dug 4 feet deep to plant them, infect these were planted not by me but a professional and I had purchased the trees from him too.

Please suggest what should I do to take care of them and to know if they have survived the transplant ?

Eric Frei

I'd say what Jeff meant is that they could have been planted too deep. Also the new soil could be different and possibly retain water, so the hole that has been dug could retain water drowning the palm, the hole could be like a well or dam.

It is wise to keep the original grade depth for them, or in other words the same soil line, do not replant deeper or shallower.

Soil Aeration Experiments| Grade Changes| Compaction| Decompaction

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indep14

Thanks for the explanation, but since I cannot uproot and plant them again therefore what should I do now ?
Here are some pics that I took today.
http://s209.???????????.com/albums/b...%20Jan%202012/

Eric Frei

Between say the existing rootball the palm had when it was transplanted and the face of the hole that was dug try to dig or drill a small hole down to the depth of rootball and get an idea of how wet it is.

I have a soil coring tool for the job but try to get an idea if there is excess water.

If there is then you need to figure out how to get rid of it (excess water), and boring a bunch of deep holes that go past the bottom of the root ball can help, you can fill it with rough sand etc.

What is the soil type? Often heavy clay and shale rock are a problem. Often a deeper hole with a variety of stone/sand beneath the final depth for drainage is done, or even drains installed to get rid of pooling water.

Also if excess water is the issue then try to change the water flows, reduce surface flow with trenches and drains, reduce direct rain onto the surface with perforated tarps etc so soil water runs off rather than flooding the palms.

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indep14

@Eric Frei

Here are a few pics that I took today. Please tell me does it look that this one particular tree has survived the transplant, when are new leaves expected to emerge and should I fertilize both trees every month ?

Attached Thumbnails

           

Eric Frei

Doesn't look like much change. But it has been winter there right?

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indep14

Yes, but winters here are mild around 9°C (45°F), during summers the temperature goes up to maximum 42°C (107°F) and the Arabian Sea (Ocean) is around 5 KMs (3 miles) from my house.

Eric Frei

Those palms wont do much until you get over 25C I reckon

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indep14

@ Eric Frei
I have removed 5 of the 6 leaves of the tree today, which I thought would enable most of the tree's energy, nutrition and focus be diverted on the tree's growth and emergence of new leaves.

Jeffrey Lovstrom

The trees Need their leaves. I would of left them on.
Jeff

indep14

@Jeffswede
Why do trees need leaves ?

Eric Frei

What do you think the palm uses to make sugars?

Google photosynthesis

Now another nail in the coffin but it is extremely clear that you do not read or follow our links and you need to be spoon fed.

Thread closed, sick of wasting time on numb nuts.

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