I've got this canary island palm that came up wild near the property line. I didn't realize it would get so big so quickly. I'd like to leave it there,because it's a good divider between the yards unless I'm risking damage to a block wall. The trunk is now about 2-feet diameter and about 6-12 inches from the wall.
I know some types of trees have roots that grow near the surface and could do damage but I have no experience with this type of palm.
Anyone know if keeping it is a risk to the wall?
Next question.... I have read that some people will pay big bucks to come and dig these canary palms out and move them. Any truth to that?
Thanks David. I checked just now, and it's far enough away from the wall that it wouldn't touch during high winds. As long as the roots are not a problem as far as damaging the wall, I'll just leave it where it is. First choice would be to sell it to someone if it's worth much and plant something else in its place. Probably not practical unless the company has a crane to lift it up and out. The only way to get equipment in the yard a 5-ft space between the house and the block wall. Still, will make some calls and post what I find out.
- Thanks David. I checked just now, and it's far enough away from the wall that it wouldn't touch during high winds. As long as the roots are not a problem as far as damaging the wall, I'll just leave it where it is. First choice would be to sell it to someone if it's worth much and plant something else in its place. Probably not practical unless the company has a crane to lift it up and out. The only way to get equipment in the yard a 5-ft space between the house and the block wall. Still, will make some calls and post what I find out.
I was able to get to the other side of the wall today which is inside a fenced yard. Bad news -- the wall is starting to lean away from the tree at the top of the wall, and the mortar has broken between a few blocks. I don't see anything close to the wall on my side, but it is so overgrown around the tree I can't get close enough yet. Will do some trimming this weekend and see.
Now I see that there are 4-6 smaller trunks coming growing around the tree at the base. Not huge, but large enough to create pressure if there is one against the wall.
If this turns out to be the problem, I could cut that trunk off and have nothing within a foot or more of the wall. Latest questions are....
After I cut that trunk off, should I put asphalt or some other sealing agent on the cut?
If it turns out that the roots may be pushing up the wall, would it hurt the tree if I dig down and cut the roots on my side of the wall?
With palms, I do not think sealing the cuts is important. Just be sure the cut slopes away from the main trunk at least slightly. You do not want water to sit on the cut or drain towards the main trunk.
Cut away whatever you think is necessary as long as it does not exceed half way around the trunk. Palms readily send out new roots from the base of the trunk. Thus, you might want to place a vertical sheet of aluminum or heavy plastic in the trench you dug to act as a barrier against new roots. Steel will eventually corrode and disappear. Best would be a sheet of copper, which would create both a physical and a chemical barrier; but copper is very expensive.
If there is a high wind within several months, yes, the tree might topple. If you get such winds, use guy wires anchored to the ground with 2-ft lengths of steel rebar at least 1/4-inch in diameter (1/2-inch is better). Thread the wires through old pieces of garden hose at the end where you tie it to the palm. After a year, new roots should be sufficient to anchor the tree, even with a root barrier.
away, would it weaken that side in case of a high wind?
I was able to get a look at the space between the tree and wall. One of the smaller trunks is touching the wall about 3 feet up from the ground and pushing it. If I cut it off at the base, the base will be the closest part of the tree at around 6-in from the wall. With the small trunk removed, do you think there's any reason to dig down and cut the roots? I don't mind doing it, but if it won't affect the wall, I'd rather leave all the roots in place.
Here you are in alt.appalachian trolling with the awfullest filth. How do you find time to engage in vicious trolling and this too? ----->>
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By the way every post in the thread is by this malevolent psycho, Snuffy Hu bcap McKinney, aka Guv, aka Livebait McKinney, aka Frank Drebin, aka Squeeg ees, and about 100 other monikers. He's obsessed that others do not know w ho he really is but doxxes people he does not like.
He confesses, and then brags about it, to common thievery from a department store, and malicious vandalism by urinating on the walls and floor in a me n's room and then stopping up all the toilets -- in alt.home.repair and alt .appalachian.
In that case, I would not bother to cut the roots. The roots might indeed grow under the wall, but they are not like tree roots. With palms, the roots do not grow larger around and lift or push.
away, would it weaken that side in case of a high wind?
One of the smaller trunks is touching the wall about 3 feet up from the ground and pushing it. If I cut it off at the base, the base will be the closest part of the tree at around 6-in from the wall. With the small trunk removed, do you think there's any reason to dig down and cut the roots? I don't mind doing it, but if it won't affect the wall, I'd rather leave all the roots in place.
That's good to hear. Many thanks, David. Now to get the trimming done and start on repairing that wall. Very grateful that my neighbor noticed it and let me know before it did serious damage.
away, would it weaken that side in case of a high wind?
One of the smaller trunks is touching the wall about 3 feet up from the ground and pushing it. If I cut it off at the base, the base will be the closest part of the tree at around 6-in from the wall. With the small trunk removed, do you think there's any reason to dig down and cut the roots? I don't mind doing it, but if it won't affect the wall, I'd rather leave all the roots in place.
- That's good to hear. Many thanks, David. Now to get the trimming done and start on repairing that wall. Very grateful that my neighbor noticed it and let me know before it did serious damage.
I spend a few hours in the jungle here and finally got enough cut away to see the trunks. Still not that easy to see them, but here are a couple of photos.
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