Raising a Redwood
By Mary Giambalvo,
Selecting a tree to plant is akin
to choosing a pet to join the family. They
are all adorable as babies, but do we have the space and resources to care for
them into adulthood? Most of us would be
hard pressed to rear an elephant on our small plots, and it might be judicious
to think of that lacy potted redwood at the garden center as our baby
elephant. There are three types of
redwoods: the coast redwood, the giant sequoia and the dawn redwood; all are
beautiful, and all get very big.
The coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is a regal coastal
In fog-prone areas, the coast redwood survives nicely from year-round dripping
skies and moderate temperatures.
Elsewhere, it requires copious amounts of precious supplemental
water. This makes the coast redwood very
thirsty but also, surprisingly, compatible with lawns, at least until it grows
to a point when it provides too much shade for the grass. A number of variations of coast redwood have
naturally developed with different foliage colors and branch shapes. It pays to look around to choose a
favorite. It will be in the family a
long, long time.
While it is not susceptible to oak root fungus or most pests, the coast
redwood, according to
The giant sequoia (Sequoia gigantea), called the largest living
organism on the planet, is more at home in higher altitude areas like the
Sierras. It grows a little slower than
the coast redwood and needs a little less water, but taking it from its natural
habitat may increase its susceptibility to pests and diseases that attack it.
The dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is native to
Some folks plant redwoods about eight feet apart and treat them as hedges,
topping and trimming to keep down the rampant growth, but most gardeners stand
back and let these behemoths surge upward.
This requires more than a small plot of land. One might consider the rapid growth and its
impact on views and sunlight for the entire neighborhood. Companion plants that do well near redwoods,
and have similar needs, include Rhododendron, azalea, Arbutus and a variety of
ferns.
It is easy to fall in love with the delicate greenery and powerful auburn trunk
of the mighty redwood. It is not always
so easy to provide it with the space and water it needs. If after careful consideration, your heart is
set on the elephant rather than a house pet, give it plenty of space and water
and jump back.