Giant Sequoia Landscape Questions
- Will the giant sequoia grow here?
- The
Sunset New Western Garden Book lists the Sequoiadendron giganteum
(giant sequoia) as hardy to “all zones”. Zones refer to climate.
Specimen sequoias can be found in all climates indicating that the
species is remarkably adaptable. The limiting factor is the
availability of liquid water in the root zone. A sequoia can suck the
ground dry on a warm day. If there is no natural means of replenishing
the soil moisture consistently the grower must supplement the sequoias
with irrigation. Failure to keep the soil moist results in a dead tree.
Sequoias require moist, rich, balanced ph, and well-drained soil.
Permanently swampy or muddy soil will not work.
- How big can a giant sequoia grow in my lifetime?
- The giant sequoia given good conditions and good gardening techniques
will put on growth rings of one inch per year. That would increase the
trunk diameter by 2 inches per year. At that rate you could expect the
tree to have a trunk diameter of 20 inches in its 10th year, 60 inches
in its 30th year, 100 inches in its 50th year, and 200 inches in its
100th year. 200 inches is nearly 17 feet in trunk diameter.
Given excellent conditions and excellent gardening techniques the growth rings could approach 2 inches doubling the 100-year total to 34 feet in trunk diameter. That would put the tree in competition with the largest diameter trees in the wild. The General Grant Tree is nearly 41 feet in diameter. - Why is my sequoia discoloring in the winter?
- Young giant sequoias typically undergo color changes in the winter and
early spring. The younger the tree the more susceptible to the color
change it is. Trees less than one year old are most often affected. I
have seen this condition in trees up to five years old but never in
older trees. The wintertime discoloration produces a color that is yet
to be named by whoever names colors. It has been described as
purplish-red, rust, brown, and bronze. Everyone who tries to describe
the color struggles with an attempt to describe a color that has yet to
be named. The discoloration does not occur every winter. It typically
will come on suddenly in the wake of a cold storm after a period of
unseasonable warmth. Seedlings that are buried in snow do not discolor,
only those that are exposed to the wind leading us to believe that the
discoloration is the result of freeze drying. The discoloration does
not harm the trees it simply brings out a pigment that is already
present. The condition will disappear when the temperatures remain warm
for an extended period in the spring.
You can see photos of this condition on About Sequoia Trees page under wintertime discoloration. - How do I fertilize my giant sequoia?
The most cost effective way to fertilize your soil depends on your climate and soil type. The temperature of the soil is a factor as well as the chemical makeup of the soil. Without an analysis of your specific soil conditions we cannot suggest the most cost effective way to fertilize your soil. Experienced gardeners know what fertilzers work best for their soil. If your fertilzer works for you in your area, it would work for your giant sequoias.Here at the 5,000 foot elevation of the central Sierra Nevada Mountains of California we use our own special blend for warm season or for cool season when planting. We use the cool season plant food when the soil temperature is below 70 degrees F. Our special blends of giant sequoia plant foods are available in our online store. To keep your trees growing their best use the plant food once a month.
- How fast do giant sequoias grow?
- The giant sequoia is the fastest growing conifer on earth given the right conditions. We expect 6 feet of upward growth in the third year and one-inch plus growth rings. They have the potential to grow faster every year. They quit growing tall rapidly once they reach full sun. Once they reach full sun they begin to put on weight. A mature giant sequoia has a trunk nearly 40 feet in diameter and is nearly 300 feet tall.
- How far apart do you plant giant sequoia trees?
- The distance between newly planted sequoias depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you are seeking screening for privacy or windbreaks they can be planted as close together as six feet. If you are attempting to grow specimen giants, 30 to 60 feet apart would be more appropriate.
- Can I bare the roots of a giant sequoia for transplanting?
- Giant sequoias have very tender little white feeder roots. The tree depends on these feeder roots for hydration and sustenance. These roots snap off with the slightest touch. In the national parks, visitors are instructed to stay on the trails when visiting the sequoia groves because simply walking on the ground under the giants will crush the shallow feeder roots. Sequoias should never be bare rooted. The process of removing the soil will also remove the feeder roots. Once the feeder roots are removed the tree will slowly dehydrate until it is dead or nearly so. The only hope the bare rooted sequoia has is to regenerate the feeder roots before death from dehydration. That is not likely. Many people have tried sequoias in their area and assume that they died because of soil, climate, fungus, and other types of problems. Most of those trees died because bare rooting destroyed the feeder roots. Shipping costs are higher to get sequoias with the roots intact but the chances of success are improved tremendously. With an undisturbed root system the giant sequoia is a very hardy tree. Remember to keep it watered because drought will also destroy the feeder roots. The soil must be kept moist at all times.
- How do I improve a failing young giant sequoia tree?
- Remove the dead wood from the failing trees by making cuts close to the trunk with sharp pruning shears. Clean the debris away from the base of the trees being careful not to scrape the trunks. Leaf litter and other debris can be a hiding place for slugs and damaging pests. Eliminate the grass and weeds in a 3 foot diameter circle. Construct a basin with some imported soil. Do not attempt to dig around the trees. The roots are very shallow. Use Miracle-Gro 20-20-20 at full strength (1Tbs. per gallon). Pour about 2 gallons of this mixture into the basin every two weeks.
- Can I plant a giant sequoia near a stream to provide water?
- Planting near a stream, especially in a flood plain, is not advisable. The trees could wash away in a flood, or be crushed by floating debris. Sometimes the water table is too high in low lying land near streams. When there is a high water table there is a chance that the soil is not flushing clean. Water moves upward from a shallow water table as if being drawn up by a sponge. That leads to a build up of toxins. Only plants adapted to swamp-like conditions can handle the toxins. The giant sequoia needs clean soil that drains well.
- Can I plant a giant sequoia in the ground in winter?
- Yes, if the ground is still workable. Do not plant them in mud or
frozen ground. In cold climates it is advisable to wait until spring
but it can be done if steps are taken to prevent freeze dry.
Your challenge will be to prevent wintertime dehydration. Young sequoias are not very sappy and are susceptible to freeze dry. In addition the roots will not have grown out far enough to reach the moisture in the surrounding soil. You can lose the tree in a hurry if you have a dry spell. The plants will consume all of the moisture contained in their original root balls rapidly on a warm day and don't have the roots yet to reach surrounding moisture. You'll have to have a watering can handy just in case. Check the root ball on your specimen frequently the first winter for moisture. Remember to check the root ball not the surrounding soil. The surrounding soil can be muddy and the tree can still die of dehydration if the original root ball itself is not kept moist. - Can I keep a giant sequoia indoors for the winter?
- A heated indoors is not a beneficial environment for long-term maintenance of giant sequoias. They will most likely survive the winter inside a house but will have lost their bearings somewhat concerning their dormancy period and climate adaptation. It is helpful for them to spend some time outside in the cold of winter basically resting and getting used to their environment. Ideally the container kept sequoias will be watered well and then placed outside to be buried deep by winter snow. Once they are buried deep in snow there will be no maintenance needed until the snow melts in the spring. The trees will be insulated from cold drying winds and be unable to dehydrate under the snow. If you have freezing weather but no snow then the container kept sequoias will have to be taken into a garage or cellar occasionally to be thawed and watered. After a few days of above freezing temperatures and wet roots the trees can be set back out. They should not be set back out into sub zero temperatures. They will keep in the garage or cellar until the temperatures moderate some. The shock of rapidly changing temperatures should be avoided. The cold of winter does not harm the sequoias. Wintertime damage is done by wintertime dehydration from cold dry winds.
- How do I care for my new giant sequoia seedling?
- 1) Plant your seedling in fertile well-drained soil as soon as possible. Full sun is best but partial sun will do.
2) To remove the seedling from the container tube simply invert the seedling and tap it out by gently striking the edge of the container on a table edge or other hard surface. Be careful to hold the tree away from the hard surface so the trunk will not be scraped during removal. These trees are very flexible. They will bend easily without breaking. Use one hand to shield the tree from the table edge and the other hand to grip the container and tap. Do not break or disturb the roots any more than what may occur during removal from the containers.
3) Water your trees! It is very important to never allow the roots of the giant sequoias to dry out completely. Giant sequoias need consistent moisture to remain in optimum condition. Excessive moisture is not necessary or helpful but an occasional flooding to insure deep moisture in the root zone is helpful. The major cause of death in the young giant sequoias in the landscape garden is drought. There are no known diseases or insects that plague giant sequoias.
4) For best results keep your soil fertile. Giant sequoias are voracious feeders and the fastest growing conifer on earth when given fertile loose soil and consistent moisture. They will grow in hard soil very well but much slower.
5) Protect your seedlings from snails and slugs. Slugs and snails feed at night and can destroy your seedlings without being detected. - Will giant sequoias grow in the midwest?
- Yes. The limiting factor for success is your ability to water the trees. The giant sequoias are an unusual tree in that they consume moisture at an astounding rate on a warm day. Even though your soil seems to remain moist I promise you that the sequoias will dry it out. Once the soil is devoid of moisture the tree is dead. The only way you can be certain of long-term success in the absence of irrigation is to have a subsurface source of moisture that replenishes itself. The sequoias require permanently moist, rich, and well drained soil. A swampy or muddy area will not do.
- How do I eliminate fungal infections?
- The giant sequoias are a rapidly growing species especially in spring and early summer. If there is a disruption in the consumption or distribution of the nutrients needed for building blocks the plant then can become susceptible to fungal infections. The sign of a fungal infection in the giant sequoia is darkening spots on the stems or trunk and even open lesions if the condition is severe. The condition is most common in container grown plants. Once the plant becomes root bound there is not enough roots to support the amount of foliage that is trying to build in denying sustenance to the new tissue. The best way I have found to illustrate the problem is to think of the cells as a block wall. In spring and summer the cells of the plant are being laid down in perfect order in rapid succession. A shortage of water or nutrients can result in an imperfection or "hole in the wall". Infection can then set into the hole in the wall and feed on damaged tissue. A giant sequoia that is planted out in good rich soil with a sufficient water supply will simply outgrow any attempt by the fungi to enter. Once the plant is infected steps should be taken to return the plant to optimum growing conditions as soon as possible. First you should make an application of fungicide. I have found that Immunox from Spectracide is effective. It can be purchased over the counter at most garden chemical stores. Spray the plant thoroughly making sure to wet the trunk and stems. The fungicide will soak into the stems and inhibit the spread of the fungus allowing the plant to regenerate and fill the holes with healthy tissue. Repeated applications are sometimes necessary until the plant is growing rapidly on its own.