Coast redwood questions

14 years ago

Hi all,

I'd like to plant a couple of coast redwoods in front of our house. Our summers are warm, with a couple of spells 100 degrees+; however, there are many of these trees grown here.

If you could help me with my questions, I'd really appreciate it!

1) How far away should I plant from retaining walls, stone steps, driveways, and house foundation? How deep do the roots go?

2) Can I "limb-up" a redwood and how early?

3) What kind of soil amendments would you suggest? Our soil is decomposed granite, mostly, and we have been digging in commercial compost. We have good drainage.

Thank you so much.

- Magpie

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Comments (4)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
14 years ago
Magpie, what part of California are you in?

Up in the wild you know how big these get. In yards its a little more under control.

I would still try to give the fella AT LEAST 20 feet from my house. My main concern is always trees falling on the room your grandkids may stay in.

Are these huge retaining walls holding up a 100ft tall cliff or just the standard 4 foot ones to let your driveway be more level?

If your neighbors have some it probably grows pretty well in your area. Are they out watering 80ft trees to keep them alive or anything crazy like that you may want to avoid? Naturally the first year or two in the ground you are going to have to water with anything though.

"Our soil is decomposed granite, mostly,"
Is your yard similar to your neighbor's where redwoods grow?
Assuming so I wouldn't mess with it. If your lot was the last one and there is some backfill issue you might have to. Once again, what if you find a tree that by the time it is 80 foot tall needs you to dump a ton of xxxx wonder fertilizer in the yard or else it will die.

****************

I am envious that you can grow these.
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valleymagpie
Original Author
14 years ago
Tornado,

I'm actually in southern Oregon. Our summers are kind of like Southern California's but not as hot for as long, we get a little snow in the winter, and have basically rainy fall, winter, and spring. We even get some morning fog like the California coast (but we are inland).

Most of the soil around here is DG but I don't KNOW anyone who has a redwood tree. They just grow in various places around town. I'm going to try to keep it 20 ft from the foundation; the retaining wall I mentioned is just a 3-foot wall that's not holding up anything crucial. My DH just doesn't want to have to rebuild it.

Douglas firs also grow here (we have two) but a few have been attacked by bark beetles so I don't really want to plant those.

You have reassured me in my choice. Thank you so much!

- Magpie
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Embothrium
14 years ago
Healthy redwoods basically don't fall over. Main problems later would be perpetual gloom produced, persistent litter in gutters etc. and making house look tiny with their large size.
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wisconsitom
14 years ago
..and as is my usual advice re: Soil amendments-if you are able to amend a large area-basically the entire ultimate rootrun of the trees, then yes, by all means, and compost is the best. But amending a little tiny area around the new planting is of no longterm benefit and can actually create drainage anomalies that can negatively impact the tree(s) in its critical early going.

Good luck! I've seen pics of redwoods in essentially urban settings and find the effect quite marvelous.

+oM
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Coast redwood questions

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Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

valleymagpie
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Coast redwood questions

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Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

valleymagpieOriginal Author

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valleymagpie
Original Author