While we are waiting for the landscapers to bring us our estimate and computer generated image of our landscaped yard Summer and I have been researching how we can landscape ourselves for cheaper. We already know their estimate is going to be expensive.
I mentioned that we found Bermuda Grass Seed online..that will cost us around $500 for 20,000 square feet of seed. Add topsoil, spreading the topsoil, laying the seed, spreading more topsoil and then covering it all in hay…and we are looking at about $1,000.
We found out about a tree store (what are they called again?) in Cabo Rojo that works in conjunction with the University of Mayaguez that gives away baby fruit trees. They base how many trees they will give you by the amount of land you have. The majority of the trees they give away are crazy hybrid trees like PinaMango (mango and pineapple hybrid), lemon/lime trees, orange/lemon trees etc…but they also give away orange, lemon, kanepa, mango, avocado etc.
Now, when it comes to getting the tropical look and feel that we really want to have in our front yard, that is going to require palm trees. Now, that is where the dollars really get spent. Palm trees range in cost, but they usually start around $400 (4-5ft) and go all the way up to the thousands. Summer and I really like the Queen Plams which are one of the more expensive varieties you can buy.
Here is a little info I found on the Queen Palm:
The Queen Palm is a pinnate, plumose palm, gracefully arching, with dark green, spineless fronds. The trunk is 12″ - 24″ thick. The bracts are a striking ivory with orange colored, fruit. The queen is a fast growing palm and can grow 2-3 feet per year to an ultimate height of 50-60 feet.
Queen Palms on the beach in the Caribbean
(Spell checker always corrects the horrible way I spell carribean, carribbean, carribeon…so on and so forth…do you get it right every time?)
Here is the good news:
Mark just called me from one of the houses he landscapes and said that the guy there has been growing palms, with the hopes of selling them, for a number of years now. He is going to sell us 16 three year old Queen Palms for $300. We are stoked. We are heading over there right now with cash in hand to rid this guy of his pesky palm tree garden.
It is easier to pull the trigger on this today…Summer and I went to the Mayaguez Casino last night and played both poker and black jack very successfully. Today, we will spend $300 that we didn’t have yesterday. Thanks Mayaguez Casino / Landscape Funder!
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Queen palms are GREAT, they seem to do well anywhere. Barbara had a pair 60 ft.high on either side of the entry of her 100 year old home. And she didnt water much! She was pissed we had to clean up and kill all the volenteers, lol.I know they will do well there with all the rain. I came across King Palms on the carib side of Venisuela. Must be something with the geography. They are called king palms for good reason. I think you got a couple on the border property.
I pointed them out. They are sprouting as we speak.
Why do palms cost so much more there then in Southern Cali. Would seem to me palmsville in so much tropical rain and humidity. So much just doesnt make any sense. But then wrf do I know?
The palms here are only expensive if you’re a gringo ;)…
Our score of 16 palms for $300 turned out even better then we hoped. We got a bunch of decent sized palms and a 8 - 9 ft Caribbean Royal Palm (which is worth at least what we paid for the whole bunch).
We bought them from a gringo that just wanted to get rid of them all real quick like…
Van really likes the King Palm, but has found it to be more expensive than mom’s favorite the Queen Palm. Dad has been known to like the Rosy Palm, which comes pretty cheap.
MDH - We just dug two big palms out from under the mango tree, that we think are king palms, so we shall see
Van - Rosy Palms, eh? Never seen one of those before, but they sound beautiful!