Must one plant a redwood at all? WAS RE: Responses to Sequoia sempervirens 'Soquel'

I would heartily contest the idea that any redwood fits comfortably on any
urban lot.  This is, in my opinion, the biggest, most common landscape error
made.  I have seen these trees placed more often where they should not go
than any other species.  I have spoken with several city arborists who
lament its misplacement repeatedly in urban situations. A 50' tree with its
subsequent spread is too large in scale for most urban lots, and most
suburban lots for that matter.  And the eventual spread of such a tree is
always underestimated, making for an awkward aspect of structure and tree
when mature, and the tree shades out anything else under it except shade
loving ground covers hearty enough to compete for the water these trees
need.  With the increasing need for conserving water, especially in Southern
California where their water isn't really their own in most cases, it is
ecologically irresponsible to plant a tree that uses that much water.  If a
gardener in So. Cal just must have some thirsty species, they really should
limit them to small areas and numbers of specimens, and not make the lion's
share of the landscape a water-hogging plant like the COAST redwood.  I
think Sean's adage of "a garden suited to its place" should be the by-word
of all mediterranean gardens.  Frankly, I am surprised this species would
even be considered in So.Cal. outside an arboretum setting.  Surely the
encyclopedic minds on this forum could suggest far more appropriate
drought-tolerant trees for this purpose.
That's my very opinionated opinion, anyway.

Karrie Reid
Folsom Foothill Gardener
Zone 9

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu [o*@ucdavis.edu]
On Behalf Of Ben Wiswall
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 7:44 PM
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Responses to Sequioa sempervirens 'Soquel'

Thanks for the input from everyone.  I've seen just
the straight species and also 'Aptos Blue' redwoods
get up to 100'+ in Los Angeles, and given moderate to
high irrigation (2-4" per month), they seem to do OK
even in the hot inland valleys.  Boething Nursery did
list 'Aptos Blue' as growing to 150'+, so I figured
maybe 'Soquel' listed at 50' was legit.  Redwoods
aren't the best fit for the southern California
landscape, but they're very handsome trees, and any
tree narrow enough to fit comfortably on a small urban
lot is worth consideration, especially if they don't
get too tall.
-Ben Wiswall
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