Collecting coastal redwood - tips?

[BrianBay9]

I think I've found some private land near Santa Cruz where the owner will let me collect some coastal redwoods. Any tips for collecting Sequoia sempervirens? Can one collect during a summer pause in growth? I've heard you don't require much in the way of roots to be successful, true? I've also heard one can remove all foliage and be successful - also true?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[RKatzin]

Wow! Nobody has any advice for Brian? Shameful!
I have never collected a Coastal Redwoods, but I have collected the suckers that sprout from the base. I have grown these and taken cuttings from them and they root very easily.
I would definitely not remove all the foliage. Thin it by removing the downward and upwards shoots to allow light into the interior.
Plant collected trees in low/wide containers so you can spread the roots as much as possible. I have seen them planted on table tops. They are not deep rooters, they go wide and shallow.
They do not like to dry out. They are coastal trees and are accustomed to daily mists. Also, being on the west coast they are do better in morning shade and strong afternoon sun.
Just a few of my observations, I hope it helps some and I hope to see what you collected.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I have never collected a Coastal Redwoods, but I have collected the suckers that sprout from the base.

I don't have any real advice because they won't grow down here. People plant them in their landscape all the time - they boom up 40' - and then as soon as they are above the surrounding trees they get hit by a blast of Santa Ana wind and they are toast - figuratively AND literally. I can relate to your comment about suckers - many people don't know that coast redwood will actually sprout new growth from logs of downed trees.

Here is a link to my favorite sequoia nursery - and an article about trimming sequoia for bonsai. I'm not sure how directly relate-able this information is to coast redwood, but it is worth a read.

 

[BrianBay9]

Yeah, I think I'd be looking for the stuff sprouting from fallen trees, things eroded from a hill or stream side. Specifically I was wondering if I can dig down and cut flat with few or no roots and still get survival? If I do, should I remove almost all green as well? I know these are pretty specialized questions given the restricted range of coastal redwoods. Worst case I'll give some a try and report back.

 

[cbrshadow23]

Yeah, I think I'd be looking for the stuff sprouting from fallen trees, things eroded from a hill or stream side. Specifically I was wondering if I can dig down and cut flat with few or no roots and still get survival? If I do, should I remove almost all green as well? I know these are pretty specialized questions given the restricted range of coastal redwoods. Worst case I'll give some a try and report back.

This is an old thread, but I'm curious if you collected those redwoods and how it went. Did they survive and recover? What method did you use for collecting and for recovery? If those trees are still around, do you have pictures you can post?