Queen palms

[calgone]

We have 2 queen palms about 20 ft tall. Anyone ever had some this big removed, including the ball.

[buggyone]

Remember, you must obtain prior approval to do so or it is a very large fine.

[CFrance]

Remember, you must obtain prior approval to do so or it is a very large fine.
Why? If I have a tree planted in my yard in an approved spot, I can't remove it, if it dies or I don't like it, without asking first?

[kittygilchrist]

I went to plant clinic today where a man had been told by a landscaper fly-by that his queen had butt rott and for xxxdollars it could be removed.
According to the master gardener staff, it's a healthy palm. granted, we are north of where queens are safe from freeze damage but if it ain't broke....

why and who said --good question...

[Bonanza]

Why? If I have a tree planted in my yard in an approved spot, I can't remove it, if it dies or I don't like it, without asking first?

I don't know what the law is in any of our three counties, but in most larger cities, you must get a permit to remove a tree, and usually, if the tree is more than a certain caliper, you cannot remove it, period, at the risk of being heavily fined.

Exceptions to the removal law would be if a tree is considered invasive, if it has been proven to be diseased, etc., but you would still need approval for its removal. Fines are also usually given if an owner has a tree hat-racked (cut back to the crotch of each limb).

I know in Broward County the laws are extremely strict. You must be licensed to even trim a tree and pass a test regarding tree trimming which is given by the County Extension Services.

[mulligan]

Read your restrictions. Anything over 4" cannot be removed without a permit.

[Bryan]

CFrance, you (and everyone who contemplates similar actions) should read the deed restrictions you signed when you purchased in TV. You can no more remove a tree over 4" in diameter than you can paint your house Shocking Red or cover your lawn in pink flamingos unless/until you get the proper approvals from the Architectural Review Committee (ARC). In your Villages Phone Book, on pages 7 and 8, is information on Community Standards. On pages 9 and 10 is a blank ARC Home / Property Alteration Application Form that you can copy and use, if you need to.

[gomoho]

I was also under the impression this 4" rule only applied to trees the developer planted on your site - not what you have brought in yourself.

[Bogie Shooter]

I just called Community Standards.
The 4" rule in our Deed Restrictions applies to all trees. I asked if a palm tree I planted would come under this rule and the answer was yes.
The review board meets every Wednesday so it would be a quick process to get approval.

[billethkid]

Calling a queen palm a tree is an insult to real trees.
They are more weed than tree (to me).
They are not native to the area.
We all know they cost $$ to maintain them......much more than real trees.

Get permission to take out what one had to get permission to plant?

If I had to remove one that I got permission to plant and wanted it out....it would be gone. Just returning the area back to the "acceptable" state before
"Permission" granted.

This is not a recommendation, it is what I would do!

[Bonanza]

Calling a queen palm a tree is an insult to real trees.
They are more weed than tree (to me).
They are not native to the area.
We all know they cost $$ to maintain them......much more than real trees.

Get permission to take out what one had to get permission to plant?

If I had to remove one that I got permission to plant and wanted it out....it would be gone. Just returning the area back to the "acceptable" state before
"Permission" granted.

This is not a recommendation, it is what I would do!

I agree with you. I have always considerd the Queen Palm a trash tree. They are cheap to buy, expensive to maintain and are not even suited for growing in this area. And yet -- landscapers still install them. I have not seen one in the Villages that is not sick and need of attention and they all have "frizzle top."

It is also on the undesirable tree list for planting in Florida. It would not be a problem to get permission to remove one for that particular reason, if none else. That goes for any undesirable tree in Florida that is on the list, as well.

[Carla B]

Obviously, Golf Management follows their own rules. We were very upset a few months ago when they thinned out the beautiful stand of oak trees behind our house, and removed 27 oaks ranging in trunk size from 8" to 19" in diameter. This was done so that the remaining trees could "flourish." We called Community Standards who sent a representative out while the cutting was going on. That's when we found out that the restrictions apply only to homeowners.

[kittygilchrist]

Calling a queen palm a tree is an insult to real trees.
They are more weed than tree (to me).
They are not native to the area.
We all know they cost $$ to maintain them......much more than real trees.

Get permission to take out what one had to get permission to plant?

If I had to remove one that I got permission to plant and wanted it out....it would be gone. Just returning the area back to the "acceptable" state before
"Permission" granted.

This is not a recommendation, it is what I would do!

You may not believe me, but palm trees are not trees.
They are grasses. Wonder if that means you don't need approval to take them down....
:throwtomatoes:
Palm Trees are technically really big grass! - OMG Facts (http://www.omgfacts.com/Fun+Facts/Palm-Trees-are-technically-really-big-gr/55557)

[Chi-Town]

I have never known anybody that has removed a Queen palm (or an oak tree) ask for permission. Some have replaced the removed tree with another type but most haven't. There are 99 homes in my circle, so my sampling is small. The trees are only 9 or 10 years old; we're not talking about stately trees.

[tommy steam]

Do you think that someone would report you if you had the tree removed? I don't think so.

[justjim]

Remember restrictions are complaint driven. In the future we will have a "hard freeze" and folks will see their queen palms will not handle such a freeze. It's not if----only when and we are due.

[billethkid]

You may not believe me, but palm trees are not trees.
They are grasses. Wonder if that means you don't need approval to take them down....
:throwtomatoes:
Palm Trees are technically really big grass! - OMG Facts (http://www.omgfacts.com/Fun+Facts/Palm-Trees-are-technically-really-big-gr/55557)

More a weed than grass.
In any case just mow the grass/pull the weed.....doing yourself a favor!

[VillagesFlorida]

CFrance, you (and everyone who contemplates similar actions) should read the deed restrictions you signed when you purchased in TV. You can no more remove a tree over 4" in diameter than you can paint your house Shocking Red or cover your lawn in pink flamingos unless/until you get the proper approvals from the Architectural Review Committee (ARC). In your Villages Phone Book, on pages 7 and 8, is information on Community Standards. On pages 9 and 10 is a blank ARC Home / Property Alteration Application Form that you can copy and use, if you need to.

A year or so ago we took our completed ARC Home/Property Alteration Application Form to their office so that we could get permission to remove a tree, about 7" or 8" in diameter. When it was learned that we live in a courtyard villa neighborhood we were told " If you live in a villa you do not need permission to remove a tree."

[n8xwb]

This has gotten a bit off track......can anyone answer the original question?