Posted by Don - Oklahoma City, OK on July 27, 2009, 11:24 pm, in reply to "Washingtonia filifera - winter protection "
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Hi Jeremy,
Yes, the pipe heating cables work great! Don't worry about protecting the leaves because they will quickly grow back from a healthy trunk.
I have found over the years it's best to wrap the trunk with paper faced fiberglass insulation (paper facing outside). Do not wrap any plactic covering around the trunk because it hampers the fiberglass from breathing locking in harmful moisture. There is also a possibility of the plastic trapping excessive wintertime warmth, breaking the palm out of dormancy and making it even more tender to cold.
Far as ground freezing protection, a thick layer of mulch will work far better than heat tapes.
Good luck and trunk height will be your enemy!
Don's Cold Hardy Citrus (You'll find a few palms too!)
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