stripping palm trunks

[Alexander]

that a palm without fibres would look more tropical is nonesence.
Alexander

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder Alexander To me it does look more tropical, even if you don't agree

Dave, your palm looks fantastic , Trachys look much better when stripped in my opinion, the bare trunk evokes memories of coconut palms.

Alexander, during the process of stripping a trachycarpus the fibre is stripped from the woody trunk not from the growing point. The trunk of Trachycarpus is extremely cold tolerant and there is no history of trunk damage from freezes, the tender part is the bud which is tucked into the apex and this portion is not subject to being stripped, so it remains protected by the fibre and therefore the palms cold tolerance is not affected.

I know.

Well in milder areas it should not be a problem. But in our climate here I would not advice it. Not with those deepfreeze winters. I guess when you get sunshine with -10 at the bare trunk it could cause damage. Difference in temperature of the trunk could cause damage with heavy frost. It happens sometimes in native trees. So why not with a more tender palm. The hear will prefend the trunk from warming up to quickly.

Alexander

[Las Palmas Norte]

Maybe the key to stripping fiber is to not be too aggressive. This past spring (2011) I started one for the first time in nearly 30 years of growing T. fortunei. On this one below, only about 6" was removed. A gradual proccess may be the best approach. Some old trees exibit that habit without our intervention.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Nigel]

Well in milder areas it should not be a problem. But in our climate here I would not advice it. Not with those deepfreeze winters. I guess when you get sunshine with -10 at the bare trunk it could cause damage. Difference in temperature of the trunk could cause damage with heavy frost. It happens sometimes in native trees. So why not with a more tender palm. The hear will prefend the trunk from warming up to quickly.

Alexander

Alexander, some of the cultivated fortuneis in China are growing in areas that regularly go to -15C or more as you know. If you have looked at the pics you will see the trunks are stripped ! Trachys dont suffer frost damage to trunks !

[jungle jas]

stripping the trunks make them look exotic but leaving the fibres on can create planting pockets for broms and clorophytum

I`m with you on this one, I grow nasturtiums in mine.

[jungle jas]

Nathan after your post re Butia I have decided to go for a pub lunch this weekend in Abersoch. As it is such a small town I shouldn't have to much trouble finding the flats. Watch this space.

[call]

stripping the trunks make them look exotic but leaving the fibres on can create planting pockets for broms and clorophytum

I`m with you on this one, I grow nasturtiums in mine.

exactly

[Dave Brown]

stripping the trunks make them look exotic but leaving the fibres on can create planting pockets for broms and clorophytum

I`m with you on this one, I grow nasturtiums in mine.

exactly

Been there, done that, but prefer a palm to be a palm, not a plant pot

[Nathan]

Nathan after your post re Butia I have decided to go for a pub lunch this weekend in Abersoch. As it is such a small town I shouldn't have to much trouble finding the flats. Watch this space.

Don't forget your camera

[Adrian]

Been there, done that, but prefer a palm to be a palm, not a plant pot

Exactly

[jungle jas]

I`m with you on this one, I grow nasturtiums in mine. [/quote]
exactly[/quote]

Been there, done that, but prefer a palm to be a palm, not a plant pot [/quote]

Dave, I`m not sure plugging your palm into the national grid and lighting it up like a Christmas tree could be be called looking like a palm.
At least plants growing in Trachycarpus trunks happens in nature.

[jungle jas]

Nathan after your post re Butia I have decided to go for a pub lunch this weekend in Abersoch. As it is such a small town I shouldn't have to much trouble finding the flats. Watch this space.

Don't forget your camera

What`s a camera.

[shanks]

stripping the trunks make them look exotic but leaving the fibres on can create planting pockets for broms and clorophytum

I`m with you on this one, I grow nasturtiums in mine.

thank everyone, mgiht try some plants on them instead just like you see on hols

[MonkeyDavid]

If and when you get several mature Trachys in your garden then you will see the benefit of having something different.
I wouldnt be without having Trachycarpus as they should be covered in fibre but having a few stripped Trachys is like having another species in your garden.
Its massively more different than having 10 or however many different Trachycarpus fortunei's are being sold that all look the same, its also cheap to achieve in a short time.

Couldn't agree more, living in the midlands there is only Trachycarpus's that are reliably hardy. If I want other palms they will probably need winter protection & there's only so many things I'm willing to go to that trouble for every year. I'd love a garden full of palms but if they have to be Trachycarpus's at least stripping some will give the illusion of more species

[jungle jas]

Well here is the infamous 'Lleyn Peninsula' Butia. Photo taken from 'Chamaerops' the EPS Journal...

The location of the palm is (or was) in the garden of Haulfryn Coach House in Abersoch, which has been turned into flats. There are also mature Chamaerops humilis & Trachycarpus fortunei there, as well as other exotics, maybe you could take a look to see if the Butia is indeed now dead...[/quote]

Nathan as promised I took a trip to Abersoch to see if Butia was still alive, unfortunately there was no one in the house so I could not ask anyone the relevant questions, however as you stated the garden is full of trachycarpus, chamaerops and Phoenix canariensis_CIDP. The garden is surrounded by a low wall that you can see over and there was no sign of the Butia so I could only assume that you are correct and the butia has died. The CIPD and chamaerops looked well, however, the trachycarpus looked a little worse for wear due entirely to the windswept location as it is on top of a rocky promentary overlooking the sea. The soil in the area is a dark fertile soil and free draining, therefore, I can actually see no reason why the butia would have died. There are many palms all over the village so this is obviously a very mild but windswept area. Attached is a photo of a double avenue of trachycarpus which is the first I've seen in the uk. regards Jas
Just tried to post photo but the file is too big so will resize and send later.

[jungle jas]

Hi Nathan herewith the photo as promised. Not bad for the pathway to the follie.