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palmtree · 09-02-2010, 02:14 AM

I think that it might be easier and safer for the palms to get a large plastic garbage bin and turn it over on top of the palms to keep moisture out. I put x-mas lights around my palms and then a light frost cloth over that followed by the plastic garbage bin to keep wind out, precipitation out, and some warmth in. It works pretty well and the temps in there are usually 15 to 20 degrees warmer than the actual air temperature. And since the x-mas lights dont give off that much heat, the risk of a fire is really greatly reduced and the palms wont overheat during a warm day. And it takes less than 5 minutes to add the protection on and its even easier to take the protection off if you want the palms to get some fresh air on a warm day. And the garbage bins do have a tendancy to blow away n high winds so a nice heavy brick should set it in place.
A mini greenhouse sounds like a good idea if it can hold the snow load and if it can retain enough heat. Its really important to keep it on whenever rain or snow is forecasted from November until march because palms really dont like cold moisture on them. A soaking during a mid winter thaw wont hurt it though as long as it wont go below freezing for a day or so.
Good luck!

09-02-2010, 02:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
palmtree palmtree's Photo Gallery Location: New York City Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Alex C Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,016 BananaBucks : 133,470 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,492 Times Was Thanked 1,428 Times in 644 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 103 Times	Re: Protecting Windmill Palms I think that it might be easier and safer for the palms to get a large plastic garbage bin and turn it over on top of the palms to keep moisture out. I put x-mas lights around my palms and then a light frost cloth over that followed by the plastic garbage bin to keep wind out, precipitation out, and some warmth in. It works pretty well and the temps in there are usually 15 to 20 degrees warmer than the actual air temperature. And since the x-mas lights dont give off that much heat, the risk of a fire is really greatly reduced and the palms wont overheat during a warm day. And it takes less than 5 minutes to add the protection on and its even easier to take the protection off if you want the palms to get some fresh air on a warm day. And the garbage bins do have a tendancy to blow away n high winds so a nice heavy brick should set it in place. A mini greenhouse sounds like a good idea if it can hold the snow load and if it can retain enough heat. Its really important to keep it on whenever rain or snow is forecasted from November until march because palms really dont like cold moisture on them. A soaking during a mid winter thaw wont hurt it though as long as it wont go below freezing for a day or so. Good luck! __________________ Location: New York City, zone 7b Last edited by palmtree : 09-02-2010 at 02:17 AM.