Comments for Backyard Resorts Blog http://tropicalyard.com/blog Creating a tropical escape in your own backyard, even if you don't live in Florida .... Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:36:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Is My Palm Tree Dead? by Aluminum garden benches http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/03/23/is-my-palm-tree-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-16294 Aluminum garden benches Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:36:50 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=231#comment-16294 <strong>Aluminum garden benches...</strong> [...]Is My Palm Tree Dead? | Backyard Resorts Blog[...]... Aluminum garden benches…

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]]> Comment on Is My Palm Tree Dead? by STRIP (A Quickie) http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/03/23/is-my-palm-tree-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-16223 STRIP (A Quickie) Sat, 07 Jan 2012 06:55:59 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=231#comment-16223 <strong>STRIP (A Quickie)...</strong> [...]Is My Palm Tree Dead? | Backyard Resorts Blog[...]... STRIP (A Quickie)…

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]]> Comment on A Fun Idea for Your Tropical Backyard Landscape – Castor Beans by Eric Harris http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/04/18/a-fun-idea-for-your-tropical-backyard-landscape-castor-beans/comment-page-1/#comment-15925 Eric Harris Sun, 01 Jan 2012 21:32:21 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=244#comment-15925 Jennifer, many many plants that you wouldn't think of as being poisonous are. The leaves of tomato plants are toxic! I'm with you on the Castor Bean plant though. I would not plant it if you have small children. Unfortunately, I don't have a great substitute for a plant that looks so tropical and can grow to nearly 20ft tall from seed in a single season. Elephant Ears are great for shade but, at least here in Dallas, cannot be planted in full sun unless you want to stand by them with a water hose 24X 7. For sun, banana plants are an obvious choice. I've also had a lot of fun with Papaya grown from seed (see <a href="http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2009/02/01/im-thinking-papayas-for-this-years-backyard-resort/" rel="nofollow">this article</a>). I also like candlestick tree and even saw it in a home depot this season. Finally, think about plumeria and other show stoppers in big pots (see <a href="http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2010/07/11/5-great-container-plants-to-kick-your-tropical-backyard-landscape-up-a-notch/" rel="nofollow">this article</a>). Hope this helps. Be sure to do your own research as to toxicity of any plant you decide to use. Jennifer, many many plants that you wouldn’t think of as being poisonous are. The leaves of tomato plants are toxic! I’m with you on the Castor Bean plant though. I would not plant it if you have small children.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a great substitute for a plant that looks so tropical and can grow to nearly 20ft tall from seed in a single season. Elephant Ears are great for shade but, at least here in Dallas, cannot be planted in full sun unless you want to stand by them with a water hose 24X 7. For sun, banana plants are an obvious choice. I’ve also had a lot of fun with Papaya grown from seed (see this article). I also like candlestick tree and even saw it in a home depot this season. Finally, think about plumeria and other show stoppers in big pots (see this article).

Hope this helps. Be sure to do your own research as to toxicity of any plant you decide to use.

]]> Comment on A Fun Idea for Your Tropical Backyard Landscape – Castor Beans by Jennifer McDaniel http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/04/18/a-fun-idea-for-your-tropical-backyard-landscape-castor-beans/comment-page-1/#comment-11130 Jennifer McDaniel Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:45:11 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=244#comment-11130 We just bought a new home with a pool and I'm already planning my tropical paradise next spring. I read this post and fell in love with the Castor Bean. I'm deeply saddened to discover how poisonous they are! We have small children and dogs so the castor plant is not for us. Do you recommend anything similar without the risk? I was thinking large elephant ears, but what else??? I keep picturing those beautiful castor bean plants!! We just bought a new home with a pool and I’m already planning my tropical paradise next spring. I read this post and fell in love with the Castor Bean. I’m deeply saddened to discover how poisonous they are! We have small children and dogs so the castor plant is not for us.

Do you recommend anything similar without the risk? I was thinking large elephant ears, but what else??? I keep picturing those beautiful castor bean plants!!

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]]> Comment on Is My Palm Tree Dead? by Eric Harris http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/03/23/is-my-palm-tree-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-10909 Eric Harris Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:21:46 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=231#comment-10909 I just saw you're in Dallas like me. Yes, this heat is negatively affecting everything, even these normally bullet proof palms. They will not stand for "wet feet", but I cant imagine that you'd be over watering. I would bet just plain old heat / drought stress. Mine sure don't look as good as they normally do this time of year. I try to give them some supplemental water by just letting a water hose slow drip for an extended time. There is not a plant on this planet I would bet that thrives in what we've been going through this summer (maybe some desert plants) here in the Dallas area. Hopefully, we'll get some relief soon ... Cheers, Eric I just saw you’re in Dallas like me. Yes, this heat is negatively affecting everything, even these normally bullet proof palms. They will not stand for “wet feet”, but I cant imagine that you’d be over watering. I would bet just plain old heat / drought stress. Mine sure don’t look as good as they normally do this time of year. I try to give them some supplemental water by just letting a water hose slow drip for an extended time. There is not a plant on this planet I would bet that thrives in what we’ve been going through this summer (maybe some desert plants) here in the Dallas area. Hopefully, we’ll get some relief soon …

Cheers,

Eric

]]> Comment on Is My Palm Tree Dead? by Eric Harris http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/03/23/is-my-palm-tree-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-10908 Eric Harris Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:17:18 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=231#comment-10908 Sorry for being so slow to get to your question. Is it a true windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)? Bunching in the middle, from my observations, seems to be their growth habit. But, as you say, they should grow out eventually. Are the fronds green and healthy? If so, I would think you'll just have to be patient. I will tell you that, here in Dallas with our relentless heat (105+) and drought, mine's growth seems a little subdued. I am giving supplemental water and that has helped. They really are as close to bullet proof as you can get for a palm, so I'd bet you're OK. Eric Sorry for being so slow to get to your question. Is it a true windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei)? Bunching in the middle, from my observations, seems to be their growth habit. But, as you say, they should grow out eventually. Are the fronds green and healthy? If so, I would think you’ll just have to be patient. I will tell you that, here in Dallas with our relentless heat (105+) and drought, mine’s growth seems a little subdued. I am giving supplemental water and that has helped. They really are as close to bullet proof as you can get for a palm, so I’d bet you’re OK.

Eric

]]> Comment on Is My Palm Tree Dead? by Marti http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/03/23/is-my-palm-tree-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-10665 Marti Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:45:46 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=231#comment-10665 We cut the last set of the old fronds off and now the others are unbunching. However, we have two others that we planted this year to replace Mexican palms and their fronds are turning brown and even the ones that aren't brown are droopy on the ends. Do you think it is the heat or we are under or over watering them. We are in Dallas and the heat is horrible this year. We cut the last set of the old fronds off and now the others are unbunching. However, we have two others that we planted this year to replace Mexican palms and their fronds are turning brown and even the ones that aren’t brown are droopy on the ends. Do you think it is the heat or we are under or over watering them. We are in Dallas and the heat is horrible this year.

]]> Comment on Is My Palm Tree Dead? by Marti http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/03/23/is-my-palm-tree-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-10523 Marti Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:45:04 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=231#comment-10523 Our windmill palms fronds are all bunched up in the middle and won't grow out. Any suggestions? Our windmill palms fronds are all bunched up in the middle and won’t grow out. Any suggestions?

]]> Comment on Is My Palm Tree Dead? by Peter http://tropicalyard.com/blog/2011/03/23/is-my-palm-tree-dead/comment-page-1/#comment-9689 Peter Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:58:18 +0000 http://tropicalyard.com/blog/?p=231#comment-9689 Just had to lay down my 15 ft 10 yrs old palm tree today. The week long sub freezing temp was too much this past winter. I have another but looks like that's a goner too. So sad. Just had to lay down my 15 ft 10 yrs old palm tree today. The week long sub freezing temp was too much this past winter. I have another but looks like that’s a goner too. So sad.

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