How to Plant a Chinese Fan Palm
- 1). Test the planting site first for drainage. Dig a hole the same depth as the container and 2 feet wider, using a shovel.
- 2). Fill the hole with water and allow all of the moisture to drain. Fill the hole a second time. The water must fully drain from the hole in 24 hours. If the hole does not clear of all water in that time period, another site should be selected and tested.
- 3). Remove the root ball from the container. Set the plant in the hole, keeping the topsoil line of the fan palm even with the native surface. Backfill around the Chinese fan palm root ball with native soil. Keep the main trunk as vertically level as possible. Do not cover the root crown of the young palm tree with soil.
- 4). Settle the soil around the palm with plenty of water. This removes air from around the root ball and increases the soil contact.
- 5). Construct an earth berm 2 feet out from the main truck using the excess soil from the transplanting hole. Palms planted in warm weather may require water every day for the first two weeks. Check the root ball for moisture content. If the root ball feels dry, add water. The overall goal is to keep the root ball moist but not standing in water.
- 6). Layer 2 to 4 inches of an organic mulch over the exposed soil area. Keep the root ball moist to a depth of 2 feet. Insert some type metal probe, long screwdriver or piece of metal rebar, to check on moisture content.
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