The 2010 ASHS Annual Conference
3114:
Effect of Sand Backfill On Transplanted Palms
3114:
Effect of Sand Backfill On Transplanted Palms
Tuesday, August 3, 2010: 10:45 AM
Springs K & L
Palms are increasingly important components of subtropical and warm temperate landscapes in Florida , the Gulf Coast , and the southwestern U. S. Because of their unique root and trunk morphology, large specimen palms can be transplanted with a relatively small root ball, creating an instant, mature landscape. A common and standard industry practice, especially in the southwestern U. S., is to use builder's or washed plaster sand as the sole backfill medium when transplanting palms although there is no research-based information or recommendations supporting this practice. We evaluated the responses of three species of transplanted landscape palms, king palm (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana, queen palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana), and windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei), to sand or native site soil used as the backfill medium. Twelve months after transplanting there was a strong trend for the sand backfill to enhance color, reduce wilt, and increase leaf production with king and windmill palms. All king and windmill palms with the sand backfill survived while 80% of the king and 20% of the windmill palms with the soil backfill died. Queen palms were unaffected by the backfill medium. Thus, sand backfill may improve transplant success with some species of palms.