I mean, WTF? Really? One of my neighbors dropped some large coin on 8 new palm trees to put in his yard. Those things are revolting. And they're havens for critters.

Please help me understand.

Those freaking things ain't even native!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabal_mexicana

If you haven't noticed, the RGV is subtropical in climate and is frequently referred to as the Tropical Tip of Texas or the Texas Tropics. Palm trees are widely dispersed throughout tropical zones ergo palm trees in the Valley. HTH

Palm Trees.

Not sure what it was but before I moved away I felt I had seen enough of them.

I have 13 Washingtonian palms in my yard. They are the bane of my existence. Everytine the wind blows, I find stuff all over the yard. I have a fellow that comes by a couple of times a year and offers to trim them but it costs me $35 a piece. (Frankly I wouldn"t do the job for that but he is a good kid and has been doing it for me for 15 years. (Actually not really a kid any more since his son is bigger than him!)

I called the hiway department and offered them for free if they would just take them out but they say no. If you are in the market, I still would give them to anyone that has the equipment to remove them. I can't imagine planting those things in your yard. They get big after a while.

[This message has been edited by oldvalleyrat (edited 6/30/2014 11:24p).]

I love the look if they're nicely trimmed.

I would never want one anywhere near my house.

As long as we're on the topic of tree trimming......

Why the **** can't anybody properly trim a live oak tree down here?!?! It's absolutely maddening watching live oaks get transformed into African Acacias year after year.

Because we live in a desert.

Have you tried Southern Landscaping? They do all my trimming other than the palm trees.

PJYoung, If I trim mine nicely will you take mine? :-)

[This message has been edited by oldvalleyrat (edited 7/1/2014 7:12p).]

How many live oaks have you seen in Mexico? I trim my own, no African Acacias in my yard

I agree that untrimmed Washintonias are an eye sore. Clean that $h!t up!!!

The live oaks/scrub oaks are native down here guys. You'd think someone would have figured it out by now. Mine was butchered when we bought our house a few years back and it has never recovered.

I believe the term you all are looking for is "Mexican Tree Sydrome"

That is what the extension forester coined it.




Anyways I have heard multiple theories on the Palm Trees.

"They were planted after the great depression as environmental projects for jobs"

"They are part of "Valley" concept of mimicking California's "Valley" culture and tropical feel"

"Some have even said they are all imported and do not belong here"


The facts and reason these trees are important is because we posses one of the most (if not the most) northern stands of palm trees in their native habitat. If you have never been to the Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville it is awesome.









"Even with a river and a wall, Palm trees are native to the LRGV(D) and know no borders"

Essentially they make us cool.

Texas Sabal Palm=native

Quercus virginiana=non-native (I know, I know, they are planted all over the place down here but they are not native)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_virginiana

On a side note, noticed a neighbor down the street turning his into African Acacias yesterday afternoon. I was dying to say something but he had a chainsaw-on-a-stick so I refrained...

[This message has been edited by carl spacklers hat (edited 7/3/2014 12:38p).]

Spackler,
you gave it the old college try but.....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quercus_fusiformis

Native.

Cool, I actually did look for info, but didn't search Texas live oak. Thanks for the link and shedding some light on the subject. I'll look for these the next time I'm planting oaks!!!