The sight of palm trees makes many dream of southern countries. It is little known that among the more than 2,000 species there are some that are frost-resistant. You can definitely plant them out in our latitudes in the garden.

Palm trees in the garden create a tropical atmosphere

Which palm trees are allowed outdoors?

When buying, make sure that the palm tree is hardy and can tolerate higher sub-zero temperatures. This is usually noted on the plant label.

Which location is suitable?

Even frost-resistant palms should not be planted indiscriminately. Give the plant a location that is as sunny as possible, for example in front of the additionally protective, south-facing house wall.

The site should also be sheltered from the wind. Constant drafts don't do the pinnate leaves any good and they would look ragged after a very short time.

For the same reason you should not place the plant too close to a path. Well cared for palm trees can grow very tall over the years. Then, as you walk past, you keep bumping into the leaves, snapping them off, drying up and being pushed off. This can severely affect the optics.

Plant the palm tree in the garden

Palm trees form few branched roots, which, however, reach far into the depths. Therefore, proceed as follows when inserting:

  • Dig a planting hole eight inches wider and at least eight inches deeper than the root ball.
  • If the soil is impermeable, dig an even larger pit and place a drainage layer of sand or gravel.
  • Fill the hole with palm soil that you have mixed yourself or bought from a specialist shop, enriched with a little bark mulch.
  • Repot the palm very carefully, the roots must not be damaged.
  • If the pot does not detach from the ball, cut it open and never tear at the root system.
  • If the roots at the lower end have already grown in a spiral, shorten the root system so that they fit vertically in the pit.
  • Place the palm tree in the planting hole and fill it with palm soil.
  • Compress carefully. Just press the floor firmly with the edge of your hand, this is enough.
  • Only fill in so much soil that the edge is a few centimeters below the surrounding garden soil or alternatively create a casting ring.

In regions where there is a risk of severe frost, it is advisable to dig the planting hole a little larger and to provide it with upright, insulating hard foam panels. The soil below the root ball is left free to allow the deep roots to develop.

In winter, cover the ground around the palm tree thickly with bark mulch, straw or brushwood. Palm trees usually freeze to death at the roots, the insulating layer and the panels keep the soil warm and prevent frost damage. An additionally laid, special plant heating cable is recommended if the palm tree is in regions where the temperature drops sharply over several weeks.

tips

If there is no space in your garden to cultivate the palm tree outdoors all year round, you can also place the plant in a pot in a suitable location, put it indoors in autumn and overwinter in the apartment.

Category:

Trees