I saw a redwood sapling in a terracotta pot the other day and wondered where the owner planned to plant it. I’ve passed by homes with redwood trees planted in the front yard. They grow with surprising speed in the right environment. Take that as a warning, if you’re new to California and you want our state tree in your yard.
The wonderful thing about redwood trees is they do grow quickly and can (if large enough) survive a fire. The tree won’t look very pretty for a long while, but it will come back with a ring within its trunk to mark the trial. They are beautiful trees that send out a network of shallow and some deep roots to hold them in the ground. That living Christmas tree will be taller than your house in a few years, taller than some business buildings in a lifetime.
In a front yard, that beautiful tree can raise foundations, invade pipes and underground wiring, crack sidewalks, and drop thousands of tiny cones loaded with seeds that can become members of a grove.
Redwoods need space to grow. So do people. They need air and light. So do people. Trees shouldn’t be imprisoned in terracotta pots.
If you have a redwood sapling in a terracotta pot, think about where you will plant it to give it what it needs to grow into what it was meant to be. Pick some lightly rainy day and plant it on a Northern California hillside where the tree can thrive. Ash can be good fertilizer.
While you’re there, strip off your mask, spread your arms and fill your lungs with good clean air. Let hope grow.