Coconut palm trees by pool

[kevin76]

To help with the anticipation while our pool is being built, we decided to visit a couple nurseries "just to look". Well, we went home the owners of 4 palms that are big enough that require a bobcat to install lol.

Anyways, one of them is a coconut palm which I've really been wanting. I'm considering putting it right behind the center line of the pool. There will be no decking in the back, so I could potentially put it close to the water edge to give some shade. I could position it so the trunk curves out over the pool or away from the pool. I kind of like the idea of having it curve out over the pool, but am thinking about that slim possibility of a coconut falling on someone's head in the pool.

I know this is very specific, but has anyone used coconut trees near your pool?

 

[ajw22]

What debris do coconut trees drop during the year?

Anything that adds to cleaning the pool after a storm is a negative.

 

[Katodude]

I hate to burst your bubble but palms put out a ton of debris. We used to have 3 palms by the pool that we removed when we did a backyard renovation. However, if you keep them really trimmed back you can minimize what they drop.

Also coconuts are a big risk during hurricane season, since you have a tree that grows projectiles.

 

[kevin76]

I hate to burst your bubble but palms put out a ton of debris. We used to have 3 palms by the pool that we removed when we did a backyard renovation. However, if you keep them really trimmed back you can minimize what they drop.

Also coconuts are a big risk during hurricane season, since you have a tree that grows projectiles.

That's a fair point. Most of the trees will be a decent distance away but with any wind there will be no stopping it. I need to research what droppings come from coconut trees. I'm not that worried about hurricanes - any winds that strong will probably put my house 10 feet underwater anyways.

 

[Katodude]

Palm trees develop big seed pods that dump tons of stuff. If you trim them early enough it is manageable, otherwise its a mess.

 

[otter86753]

Placement is key. We just had to have a 55' tall washintonia palm removed because the previous owner planted it too close to the pool, tabby surround and a garden wall. Palm roots are not invasive, so when they don't have enough space, the start aggressively growing up and splitting the bark from the trunk which ultimately kills the tree.

As for shedding, each palm species is different. We have a canary island date palm that doesn't shed much at all. The washingtonia dropped lots of palm fruit. If I were to start from scratch, I'd only plant natives, in my case, palmettos.

 

[bTL]

Placement is key. We just had to have a 55' tall washintonia palm removed because the previous owner planted it too close to the pool, tabby surround and a garden wall. Palm roots are not invasive, so when they don't have enough space, the start aggressively growing up and splitting the bark from the trunk which ultimately kills the tree.

As for shedding, each palm species is different. We have a canary island date palm that doesn't shed much at all. The washingtonia dropped lots of palm fruit. If I were to start from scratch, I'd only plant natives, in my case, palmettos.

I know this is old and I may be too late but please to anyone that reads this. Please please do not plant palmettos. They are easily one of the messiest palms known to man. Anybody who knows palms knows that. Next.. for those steering you away from coconuts.. so long as you keep them trimmed they pose absolute no threat. Even if the occasional coconut falls theyre FAR less messy than something like a palmetto. The best part about coconuts is that the seeds are large and easy to clean up. Theyre also self cleaning to.. No frond trimming. If you don't already trim coconuts before a hurricane you have no business planting them on your property to begin with. Those roots you speak of growing up the tree are called adventitious roots and they certainly do dont form from a constrained root ball. Theyre actually perfectly normal. Something else killed your tree. Please don't spread misinformation. OP: Don't let people deter you. Especially when they aren't palm aficionados