It is the tallest tree in the world. So, decided to plant a sequoia in your garden? Carefully follow the advice of Roland Motte, our gardener.
The sequoia is a giant conifer for which you will need to provide space if you want to plant one in your garden, with the advice of Roland Motte, the gardener of France Bleu Sud Lorraine and France Bleu Besançon.
The redwood family
You’ve probably heard of the sequoia, one of the tallest trees in the world. But if it’s that big, can we plant it in the garden? First, when we say sequoia, who are we talking about? There are three different genres. Metasequoia glyptostroboides from the Taxodiaceae family. Sequoia sempervirens, the common redwood. And finally the Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant sequoia. Both belong to the Cupressaceae family. The one that interests us is the giant sequoia, Sequoiadendron giganteum.
It is a conifer that grows very quickly and can reach a very impressive size. Suffice to say that you need a large garden and space to think about its future development. It is more likely to be seen in parks and gardens because it needs space. Our Sequoiadendron giganteum can reach 80 meters in height. But it will take several years before it reaches that height. Redwoods have the ability to handle pollution well. They are very hardy. All redwoods appreciate rather humid climates, with cold winters and not too dry summers.
Plant a redwood
The first year of planting it will be necessary to water the plant well in summer to help it start. As you have understood, the colder it is, the more he will like it. It’s not really a plant made for regions with mild winters. The foliage is persistent but not eternal, it will be renewed regularly and it will fall at the foot of the tree. You can even leave it on, it will make a form of mulch.
Redwood can be planted in the fall in well-drained soil. If the soil is too heavy, consider adding potting soil or sand to lighten it. In addition to resisting the cold, the Sequoiadendron giganteum, the giant sequoia, has no real enemies. You just need to provide space, lots of space. You better have a big garden!
Find Roland Motte on France Bleu Lorraine and France Bleu Besançon and on his website www.rolandmotte.fr.