Can i sell my palm tree?

NoQuarter

Hi all,

We have a palm tree out our back and were considering getting rid of it. Its about 5 meters tall. I hadnt thought about selling it until a friend mentioned it to me!

Is it possible to do this? Could anyone tell me about how i would go about doing it? Can i sell it to a nursery perhaps?

Thanks.

johno2

Maybe you could sell it as firewood. How do you propose digging it up and moving it to the buyers location? And how much do you think it's worth?

johno

oflynno

you could check out my ad in this forum looking for one

at 6 metres tall it probably wouldnt transplant too easily

where in the country are you?

The Sweeper

johno2 wrote: »

Maybe you could sell it as firewood. How do you propose digging it up and moving it to the buyers location? And how much do you think it's worth?

johno

What usually happens is they're dug out of the ground using the largest area possible, with the central root system is preserved in as far as possible. Over here, you need to call in a specialist for anything over 3m in height. Palm trees have a fibrous root system that can be mostly removed with the tree and they transplant very well. They're moved to their new destination on a truck (how did you think they'd be moved??) Bigger specimens need to be lowered into their new location with a lifting arm. It's important to ensure they're planted at the exact same level in their new location - too low can cause trunk rot, too high and they may not take. They also need to be staked with at least three stakes - could require more for the tree the OP's talking about.

And as for Johno2's apparent scorn at the tree's value, much of it depends on the desirability of the tree - the type of palm tree it is. A mature canary island palm tree of around 2m could set you back $1,000 in Oz - and those are in pots. People pay a lot of money for mature palm trees, because they take a damn long time to grow if you put them in on your property as seedlings!

If the tree is a good specimen, disease-free and in an accessible location, you will find a buyer for it. You mustn't dig it up until you have a buyer - it's important that the tree not be uprooted until it has a destination, because they can dehydrate. See if you can find a palm nursery near you, or a tree transplanting company. You won't get a retail price for your tree, but best case scenario, if it's a fine, healthy specimen in an accessible area, a nursery will pay for it and dig it out and take it away.

johno2

The Sweeper wrote: »

And as for Johno2's apparent scorn at the tree's value, much of it depends on the desirability of the tree - the type of palm tree it is. A mature canary island palm tree of around 2m could set you back $1,000 in Oz - and those are in pots. People pay a lot of money for mature palm trees, because they take a damn long time to grow if you put them in on your property as seedlings!

I remember buying a couple of those canary island palms for a customer a couple of years back for about €50 each, and they were about 2ish meter trunks too. The dearest palms I've seen around here were €250. They were about 4 meters, but that's only a rough guess. You'd be doing well to hire a crane and a truck and a couple of lads to dig up the tree for less than that. So yes, I do think selling it is a bit unrealistic. However the severe winter killed about 80% of the palm trees that I know about, so you might find somebody with too much money and not enough palm trees who is willing to pay silly money to replace them. If they were really worth €1000 each at 15 years old then every farmer in Ireland should be growing acres of them.

johno

The Sweeper

What can I say -

http://palmnursery.com.au/products.php?product=CANARY-ISLAND-DATE-%252d-200L-Bag

http://palmnursery.com.au/products.php?product=CANARY-ISLAND-DATE-%252d-400L-Bag

http://palmnursery.com.au/products.php?product=CANARY-ISLAND-DATE-%252d-ADVANCED-SIZE

I'm not making it up. Just because you don't think it's a goer doesn't mean someone out there isn't about to pay up. Also consider landscape gardening for businesses who want a 'holiday' feel e.g. hotels wanting decoration along their driveways or in their gardens - there may not be the same market in Ireland for all kinds of palms as there would be in Australia, but that doesn't mean it's a pointless exercise investigating whether the OP can sell his tree instead of just turning it into logs.

Here's one from a little closer to home - 4m canary island date palm, £850 stg.

http://www.palmcentre.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?CatID=61&ProductID=388

You obviously got a great deal on your ones with the 2m trunks for €50 each.

Yes, the OP may have an undesirable tree, in a bad location, and it might be worth nothing, but I really don't get what the harm is in him trying to find out, and I really don't get why you're pissing all over it as an idea when you don't know, for a fact, that it won't work out?

Mister Sifter

Would it fit in a Fiesta?

johno2

The Sweeper wrote: »

Yes, the OP may have an undesirable tree, in a bad location, and it might be worth nothing, but I really don't get what the harm is in him trying to find out, and I really don't get why you're pissing all over it as an idea when you don't know, for a fact, that it won't work out?

Jeez, get a grip. I'm being realistic. You obviously live in Australia. I'm a landscaper in Ireland. I chopped down one of those trees last year for firewood because it was the only way to remove it. You're coming up with unrealistic best case scenarios. You don't seem to understand how scarce money is these days, there are 250% more hotel rooms in the country than are actually being used, so finding a hotel with spare cash to burn isn't going to be easy. You've had your say and I've had mine. Let the OP decide what to do with those opinions.

johno

johno2

Mister Sifter wrote: »

Would it fit in a Fiesta?

It might, if you put down the back seats and chop it up small enough.

oflynno

once again,where are you and the tree in the country

i wouldnt mind coming to have a look at it

NoQuarter

Hi folks apologies when i checked this thread last there were no replies and i just thought it was dead!

Im in south dublin! As far as the debate on the thread, i just thought it would be worth some internet space to see if anyone had any opinions and thanks to all for theirs!

oflynno you are most welcome to come take a look. Also if it makes it easier i will upload a picture of the tree tomorrow! I think i know the species also but as its late its escaped me at the moment! I will have it tomorrow!

The tree is in excellent condition by the way! Pics to follow tomorrow...

NoQuarter

Pics as promised.
Species is cordyline.

And they do sell alright! > http://www.seagravenurseries.co.uk/products/cordylines-phormiums/cordyline-australis-cabbage-palm-400cm-13ft-triple-stem-including-pot-height-495

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/114871/109602.JPG

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/114871/109603.JPG

Edit: too big to post inside the thread.

CJhaughey

You will in all likelyhood have to lift the patio that has been laid in the background.
I don't know if you will find a buyer, those are pretty common trees here and aren't true palms.
You can but try though!

johno2

CJhaughey wrote: »

You will in all likelyhood have to lift the patio that has been laid in the background.
I don't know if you will find a buyer, those are pretty common trees here and aren't true palms.
You can but try though!

Not trying to say I told you so, but CJ is right. It's just as I suspected it would be. Just like the last one I had to deal with. 95% of the time moving the tree is not an option.

johno

NoQuarter

Yeah from the advice here and a couple of phone calls it seems that theres no moving it! it is possible if the tree is prepared in advance apparently though! sure it was worth asking!

so...who wants to buy some firewood???

CJhaughey

king-stew wrote: »

Yeah from the advice here and a couple of phone calls it seems that theres no moving it! it is possible if the tree is prepared in advance apparently though! sure it was worth asking!

so...who wants to buy some firewood???

More bad news they don't burn but you can eat the centre of them, it's a kind of starch.

oflynno

i am in cork,if i was closer i would take firewood

heres an idea,if you chop it down,leave 6 foot of it sticking out of the ground and see will it regrow,that is if you want another one

if you dont want it,still cut it 6 foot long,and give me a shout.
if it can be dug out i would love to bring it south and see will it grow.:D

Sid_Justice

Be a shame to kill the tree, looks like a lovely specimen. Although seems like a small garden for a 'tree'. How long did it take to get that big?