[Tallman]

I live down in the Eastport area and there are many plants and trees that should not have been planted here due to the possibility of a frost. Foxtails for one, are big expensive tree and have low tolerance for cold and die easily with a couple hours of frost yet landscapers plant them anyway. Since the landscapers just planted these, do they cover the cost to replace them or is that the owner's fault? One neighbor down the street has four huge foxtails planted a couple months ago that are now dead. I'm assuming the cost of these large trees are about $3k.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Tallman

I live down in the Eastport area and there are many plants and trees that should not have been planted here due to the possibility of a frost. Foxtails for one, are big expensive tree and have low tolerance for cold and die easily with a couple hours of frost yet landscapers plant them anyway. Since the landscapers just planted these, do they cover the cost to replace them or is that the owner's fault? One neighbor down the street has four huge foxtails planted a couple months ago that are now dead. I'm assuming the cost of these large trees are about $3k.

Do the foxtails show significant damage from the past frosts? My guess is not: trees, because of their bulk, retain heat far better than smaller bushes and other plants, and when that Florida sun comes up over the horizon things warm up right quick, no matter how cold it got during the night.

Saw an example in a neighbor's yard. He had a small palm tree maybe 4-5' in height, that had all fronds wilted and drooping from the frost, while a couple of other trees which looked to be the same variety except larger, came through just fine.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Tallman

I live down in the Eastport area and there are many plants and trees that should not have been planted here due to the possibility of a frost. Foxtails for one, are big expensive tree and have low tolerance for cold and die easily with a couple hours of frost yet landscapers plant them anyway. Since the landscapers just planted these, do they cover the cost to replace them or is that the owner's fault? One neighbor down the street has four huge foxtails planted a couple months ago that are now dead. I'm assuming the cost of these large trees are about $3k.

Was there a discussion between your neighbor and the landscaper of the frost risk? Did the landscaper provide a warranty? Seems there could be more to this story.

[JohnN]

You can't fool Mother Nature: Foxtail palm trees thrive in USDA hardiness zones 10 to 11. They are sensitive to cold and can suffer damage if temperatures drop below 30°F (-1°C). Ideal conditions include full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil, making them suitable for tropical and subtropical climates

People SHOULD research the plants/trees they put in. When we first moved here in 2008, we put in a smaller foxtail palm and it froze in 2010 and died. Landscapers will plant anything you ask for to get the work, so be aware. As far as the specific instance above, whatever the "contract" states is the "who's at fault". I imagine it's tough to get the landscaper to come and plant new trees without going to court.

[Topspinmo]

Be good time to eliminate most that way you don’t have the up keep years down road….

[Tallman]

I lived down in Tampa before here and had a foxtail. During the Cold Snap 15 years ago which wasn't as bad, mine and anyone else with a foxtail lost them all. Those trees along with other sensitive plants that aren't meant for the area will never come back. Other trees and plants meant for this area that were damaged I agree will come back in the spring.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Tallman

I live down in the Eastport area and there are many plants and trees that should not have been planted here due to the possibility of a frost. Foxtails for one, are big expensive tree and have low tolerance for cold and die easily with a couple hours of frost yet landscapers plant them anyway. Since the landscapers just planted these, do they cover the cost to replace them or is that the owner's fault?

Plant hardiness zone maps are available to view on the internet, as is information on the safe zones for every plant, so it's "buyer beware".

[Velvet]

The map helps - to be safe my new plants will all be 9a or lower. I was here this time to protect my plants; cover on, cover off when it got above 50, cover on cover off again etc. but last year I was traveling at this time of the year. Also when cover was on with rocks to anchor, I found in the morning that an animal had taken shelter under my plant cover, uncovering one of my plants. It was very cold and windy I didn’t mind who the cover was protecting really. But I’m getting hardy plants next time.

As far as OP’s question, the cold was an act of God which would be excluded from insurance. The weather was unnaturally cold for this area. I don’t think he/she would win in court. But if it was the Developer who put in those trees, I hope they’ve learned something if they care. Those trees grow fast so I see why they would be planted in new areas and it is possible to protect them if you read up on it, but what a nuisance!

[CoachKandSportsguy]

With a new build/purchase, just research and buy a replacement which you deem the best for your lot.
would have been no different had it been here 1,5,10 years, except the planting will be easier to replace now, cheaper as well.

good luck

[bowlingal]

many plants/trees may look dead, but actually are not. If the inside of the bark is green....still alive! give it time to recover.

[Ski Bum]

Originally Posted by Tallman

I live down in the Eastport area and there are many plants and trees that should not have been planted here due to the possibility of a frost. Foxtails for one, are big expensive tree and have low tolerance for cold and die easily with a couple hours of frost yet landscapers plant them anyway. Since the landscapers just planted these, do they cover the cost to replace them or is that the owner's fault? One neighbor down the street has four huge foxtails planted a couple months ago that are now dead. I'm assuming the cost of these large trees are about $3k.

In my 40+ years as a landscaper, frost damage is not covered under warranty

[LauraJW]

It is very unfortunate that many landscapers will not make it clear that what homeowners want isn’t what will thrive. We had landscaping done by Bobby from Escapes Landscaping. He has worked in The Villages forever and made it clear that many of the plants in the Southern end won’t make it and were poor choices. We selected most from his list and a few that we didn’t mind replacing. He then told us how to save them all as best we could. It required construction heat lights. We decided to give it a go and many of our plants look like they pulled through. He wasn’t the least expensive, but I think in the long run, he was my better choice.

[Andyb]

Can’t sue Mother Nature

[ChuckWBarnhart]

We had a double 30 foot foxtail palm installed in our front yard at our 1st house. Frost got it. We were told by our landscaper to not do anything including NOT trimming it. And let nature run its course.
The frawns turned brown, broke, but did not come apart.
Eventually falling off the trees as new growth emerged from within out the top. It took 2 years to fully recover, but they looked Great.
I have not seen them yet this year since the freeze as we moved to a larger home and haven't been down that way.

[Ptmcbriz]

I have 9 foxtail trees, all between 15’-18’ tall. My landscaper said I would need to wrap the hearts (in top where fronds emerge) if we have a hard freeze. I got our extension ladder out and wrapped all 9 with well insulation jackets. The leaves are brown but where they are attached to the trunk are green and all the leaves are perky not laying flat. I’m sure they survived but won’t know for sure for 2 months while we wait to see new growth emerge. A lot of plants can’t survive 21 degrees so you protect them. That’s what you do to tropical plants. All my other plants survived but look terrible. They will
Need to grow back from the roots on some. It’s mt responsibility in buying them.