Quck answer
To dig up a Sago Palm, follow these steps:
1. Prepare the tools: you will need a shovel, pruning shears, and a tarp or container for the plant.
2. Choose the right time: it’s best to dig up the Sago Palm in early spring or late fall when the weather is mild.
3. Dig around the palm: start by digging a circle around the base of the palm, about 1-2 feet away from the trunk.
4. Cut the roots: carefully cut through the roots using pruning shears as you dig deeper around the palm.
5. Lift and remove: once the palm is loose, carefully lift it out of the hole and place it on the tarp or container.
6. Replant or store: depending on your plans, you can either replant the Sago Palm immediately in a new location or store it in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to plant it.
Unless you have a small plant (with trunks less than 4 inches in diameter), extracting a sago palm (Cycas revoluta, USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 12) can be a physically demanding task. The large trunk and root system of larger specimens are extremely heavy and may require a team of people to remove it from the hole and relocate it to a new planting site. Extracting a larger sago palm is possible, but it might be easier to hire a landscaping crew to do the work for you.
Tips for Extracting Sago Palms
Sago palms grow very slowly, and it can take up to 50 years for them to reach a height of 10 feet. If you decide to transplant it to another site, or you simply want to get rid of it, you won’t have to worry about it growing rapidly before you have a chance to complete the task.
Similar to other palms, the root system of a sago palm doesn’t tend to spread horizontally through the planting site, but instead grows vertically deep into the ground. Also like other palms, the sago palm forms a large root ball that becomes increasingly heavy as it ages. The older the sago palm, the deeper the root system and the more effort it takes to dig it out. If you’re transplanting it to a new site, it’s best to have the new planting hole prepared so that the sago palm can be immediately planted.
Items You’ll Need
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Peat moss
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Sharp shooter shovel
or spade shovel
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Gloves
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Loppers or pruning shears
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Wheelbarrow or tarp
How to Extract a Sago Palm
Step 1: Prepare the New Planting Hole
Prepare a new planting hole with well-draining soil in a location that receives sun to partial shade. Dig a hole that is as deep and twice as wide as the expected root ball. You can enlarge the hole once you see the size of the root ball.
Step 2: Prepare the Sago for Transplanting
Wear gloves because the pointed and sharp tips of the sago branches can cut your skin. To safely approach the trunk, trim off all sago branches except the top ring.
Step 3: Dig Out the Sago Palm
Use a sharpshooter shovel or a spade shovel to begin digging out the sago palm about 6 to 12 inches from the plant’s trunk, ensuring that you retrieve as much of the root system as possible. Depending on the size of the sago palm, you will need to dig at least 1 foot into the soil to extract the entire root system.
Step 4: Trim Roots If Necessary
If needed, prune any stubborn roots to free them from the soil. You will have better success transplanting the sago palm if you trim the roots to a length of about 1 foot. Use clean loppers or pruning shears to make the cuts.
Step 5: Remove the Sago Palm
Using the shovel, lift the root system out of the planting hole. Place the sago palm on a wheelbarrow or tarp and transport it to the new planting site.
Step 6: Plant the Sago Palm
Position the sago palm in the center of its new planting hole, making sure not to plant it any deeper than it was originally growing. Add additional soil to the bottom of the hole if necessary.
Step 7: Watering the Sago Palm
Provide water to the sago palm, ensuring that the root system is thoroughly soaked. Keep watering the sago palm whenever the soil dries out. After transplanting, it may take a year or two for the sago palm to show signs of new normal growth.
