[gjbl8114]

Originally Posted by djohnson

i just attended a class at the Life Long Learning College on landscaping, it was thru the IFAS, the instructor was great he has a very good background, teaches at the University of Florida and does certifications. One of the first things he said was "don't plant Queen Palms here" we are in zone 9A and they will freeze out eventually. Also stated is that the landscaping rocks deprive the landscaping plants of nutrients and heat the ground too much, he suggested using an organic matter or pine straw. I don't have Queens but am interested in those that have them for more than 3 years, do they last here in your experience ? I see all kinds of them going up in the new landscaping around here as I live in the new section south of 466A and questioning the landscape companies selling these trees that are doomed. Sad to say I did put in rock, but I see it everywhere, and the most reputable landscape companies are putting it in.

DON'T DO IT!!!! Queen Palms are fast growers and tend to accentuate landscaping, however, they are problemmatic and require an enormous amount of maintenance, not to mention when the seed pods come out on them. We have (had) three - now only two. The winter o 2009 claimed one. When we inquired about having the tree removed, the cost was unbelievable. We ended up leaving the stump because the roots were so entangled into the sprinkler system - would have required major repair to sprinkler system. They are a nuisance. If you don't want the expense of major maintenance and annoying seedling issues that, by the way, stain your driveway - DON'T DO IT...... By the way, I live south of 466.

[Serenoa]

Originally Posted by gomoho

Jimbo - the pics were taken at Village Palms and she quoted she believed the price for the mule between $600 and $700. They are pricey.

Gomoho, not that it makes much difference on here, but just for the record I'm a MALE palm growin nut, not a female.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Serenoa

Gomoho, not that it makes much difference on here, but just for the record I'm a MALE palm growin nut, not a female.

I stand corrected

[petenj]

Originally Posted by bluedog103

You would distrust information from an expert and come to TOTV for landscaping advice?

IMHO Good Point!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by gjbl8114

DON'T DO IT!!!! Queen Palms are fast growers and tend to accentuate landscaping, however, they are problemmatic and require an enormous amount of maintenance, not to mention when the seed pods come out on them. We have (had) three - now only two. The winter o 2009 claimed one. If you don't want the expense of major maintenance and annoying seedling issues that, by the way, stain your driveway - DON'T DO IT...... By the way, I live south of 466.

We've had queen palms since 2007 and we enjoy them, no problems. We also have a double Sylvester that we love. We replaced all our mulch with rock.

[Irishlass]

I have had three huge Queens installed 5 years ago. So far they're fine.

[JB in TV]

I have to laugh about landscape rock overheating the soil around the plants. We just moved here from Southern AZ, Tucson to be exact, and it gets very hot there... Pretty much 4 months where it is over 100 degres almost every day. With alot of direct sunshine, most, if not all yards there have rock, and the plants survive just fine, as long as they get daily water. I suspect that the rock vs mulch/pine needles etc debate is mostly based on personal preference.

[kittygilchrist]

Debbie, thanks for this thread and angie for the tome of info! I had citrus trees in the zone north of here (Gainesville) and they survived the winter of 2010 because they were planted near the concrete and asphalt curb that absorbed heat in daytime. Frosty Florida sets record low temperatures - USATODAY.com

Soooo, if you plant queens and use rock, you have a better chance they'll survive cold.
Kitty

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by JB in TV

I have to laugh about landscape rock overheating the soil around the plants. We just moved here from Southern AZ, Tucson to be exact, and it gets very hot there... Pretty much 4 months where it is over 100 degres almost every day. With alot of direct sunshine, most, if not all yards there have rock, and the plants survive just fine, as long as they get daily water. I suspect that the rock vs mulch/pine needles etc debate is mostly based on personal preference.

JB - totally different ballgame in the desert. Most of what we grew there thrived on hot, hot, and more hot. Here the plantings thrive on high humidity along with the heat. Can see where rock would rob these plants of needed moisuture and humidity, but at the same time stuff is thriving here that is planted in nothing more than sand with rock around it. Go figure!

[kstew43]

Queen Palms are NOT self cleaning. Don't do it....

[janeg]

I wholeheartedly agree about not using Queen Palms. Many who have planted them north of 466a are now paying a lot of money to have them removed! Don't do it. If you go on the Florida Master Gardener website there are pretty alternatives. I like the rocks and our property is tiny so I'll use them when we finally get down there.

Good luck and have fun at the nursery!

[jimbo2012]

having a Queen indicates that U or your landscapers doesn't know palms.

Go Google it, call the Fl univ, call Rons landscaping, they can't take the low temps.

There R 35 safe palms to plant here, skip the Queen

[gomoho]

There is something very appealing about the Queen Palm - it is alive and flowing and rustles in the wind. I was initially enthralled until I started doing some research. If you love the weeping, rather than upright look of a palm and want something that is perfectly suited to our climate look at either the Ribbon or Australian Palm. They are
graceful and have a beautiful reddish trunk and not messy. Now you will pay more than you would for a Queen, but you probably won't have to remove and replace it in your lifetime.