How to Grow California Redwood Trees

Planning is crucial when growing California redwood trees.

Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), is commonly called redwood, coastal sequoia, palo Colorado and California redwood. This is one of three species of trees known as redwoods. The other two are dawn redwood and giant sequoia. California redwood trees are massive and rank as one of the world’s tallest trees and fastest growing conifers. Ancient trees grew more than 300 feet in the ideal growing environments found in the coastal regions of California and Oregon. Planning is crucial in growing these magnificent giants.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Locate a site to grow redwoods that provides plenty of room for the full grown tree. Space California redwoods 15 to 20 feet apart when planted as a screen, but farther apart when possible. A mature tree can grow 40 to 300 feet in height with a 25- to 100-foot spread.

2. Plant California redwoods in locations with partial shade to full sun. Redwoods do best on north sides of slopes or structures that provide some protection from the hot sun.

3. Dig holes three to five times the width of the containers holding the California redwood, but the same depth. Water the newly planted trees well after planting.

4. Cover the area beneath the California redwood’s canopy with three to four inches of mulch. Keep mulch away from the tree’s trunk and extend the mulch out every year in the spring to a width equal to the tree’s canopy. Mulch is important to growing redwoods, since a majority of their roots are in the top 12 inches of soil.

5. Water the California redwood trees deeply and often in the entire mulched area for at least three years during the growing season at any time it doesn’t rain. This is important to establish the root system.

Tips & Warnings

• Allow California redwood trees to grow naturally without pruning, except to get rid of dead or diseased branches. This tree grows best when the branches shade the trunk.

References

• The Gymnosperm Database; Sequoia Sempervirens; Christopher J. Earle; January 2011
• Save the Redwoods League: About Redwoods
• Save the Redwoods League: Coast Redwoods: The Tallest Trees in the World
• Arbor Day Foundation; Coast Redwood
• University of California; What’s up with the Redwoods?; James Downer; September 2004

Resources

• University of California Davis: Should I Grow a Redwood?
• Flower Essence Society; Plant Profile: The Redwood Tree; Richard Katz