Pruning a BIG Redwood

[@travisnorman957]

You are exactly the kind of man I want to work for and learn from. Love this channel. ThAnkyou sir.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Travis Norman Thanks, good luck in your career

[@thiggy1249]

I always enjoy your videos, Blair, and as a do it yourselfer homeowner, find something to learn from nearly each one. One of the best lesions is knowing when to call in a pro!

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Stanley Thigpen thank you. Very kind words.

[@farmerbob4554]

It’s surprising how fast redwoods grow when they get water and fertilizer in a residential area. That 40 year old tree would have to be a lot older in the forest to get to that size. I love Mariposa Grove in Yosemite for its redwoods. Even the ones that have fallen are a majestic site. Another incredible natural wonder we have in California. Thanks for the interesting video Blair.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Thank Bob. Glad you enjoyed this video.

[@Treegrower]

I love redwoods, I cant believe how quickly they get huge 2:03

[@TheDudlydude]

​@Tyler Anthony It depends on available water and sunlight, redwoods will drink basically all the water you give them and grow as much as possible. Sempervirens is not as drought tolerant as giganteum and requires a great deal of water, the species in the video looks like a giganteum with access to a nearby sprinkler system which explains why it is so overgrown. Redwoods usually grow quickly to 30 feet within 10 years so it sounds like your tree just needs a lot more water. If it has a lot of brown needles and dead branches that's a fair sign it's not getting enough water, a young tree in the right conditions will have very few dead branches and thick foliage.

[@PowerTom286]

It's an impressive redwood tree, Blair

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Tom tom pretty big but we get them much larger

[@waynejerves1425]

Found your KZbin videos, Blair. Awesome.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Been at it a long time, thanks. Search for “Tree job from Hell”. That’s a good story.

[@dannmarceau]

We had one in North Seattle that was easily six feet at the trunk, unfortunately, it was dying and the new property owners had it taken down.

[@nwh2301]

My 1st ever dawn redwood (southern ontario Canada ) was about 8 ft tall when I purchased it from a nursery 5 summers ago . sadly third summer (even though I had been supporting top with bamboo poles ) the tree's top broke of in a windstorm its 20 ft tall but it grew not one but two leaders - unknowing to me this was a big deal - the one leader comes from a thicker knot like joint on an angle then goes straight up the other comes out straight up and is growing over on an angle . The leaders start between 3/4 and 2/3rds up from the bace of the tree. As your video states the lower tree branches are growing less pyramidal and more outwards. Mid tree there is less branches foliage than the top or bottom. It does take alot of water but the more watering it gets the more foliage there is during the summer months loosing the needles in October November after turning red. My question is -what do I do with the leaders -Prune one or both ? none? so mid tree gets more branches shoots foliage ? and when should the pruning be done (I know its august now but this was just brought to my attention) Hope you can help me make the right decision for my Dawn Redwood

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Without seeing this tree, I really can’t give an answer. Sorry

[@nwh2301]

@@arboristBlairGlenn how can I send pictures? Email address?

[@sebastiansullivan4770]

After my heart with the pretty guitar music

[@jpdillon2832]

Wow, what a weird situation with those roots! Is there any way to repair that while a tree is still young, but already in the ground?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Yes, at planting time

[@tymesho]

Lol, we just discussed this...

[@nettles89]

You can also do root pruning with some delicate excavation, even once the tree is more established. Best method then is to use an air spade, but not too many outfits have that kind of kind of equipment. Even then, it doesn’t really repair or correct the problem, but you can keep it from getting worse, or slow down the rate at which it gets worse. However, the best answer is to plant the tree properly in the first place.

[@SEANBERRY56]

I planted redwoods last year and they are about 10 months old now. How long should I leave them in the pot before planting them in their final location? I am asking as you mentioned the first one had been in the pot far too long. Thanks

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Why wait unless watering these babies will be a problem? I planted one that was ten inches tall in a one gallon plant in a wild environment 30 years ago. Today, it is fifty feet tall. It survived but if I planted it during hot weather, it would have died.

[@SEANBERRY56]

@@arboristBlairGlenn I’m in Scotland so it doesn’t get that hot here in the summer and usually only lasts a couple of months. The rest of the year usually has ample amounts of rain especially recently. I only really have one that’s of a decent size the rest are quite small so I was just thinking they might not survive if I put them outside. Recently some of them have taken on a sort of stuck together appearance with a silk like substance around the branches. Soon after these plants die. Any idea if this is a fungus or maybe too much rain and wind?

[@spikedpsycho2383]

Redwood is often referred by many as "Widowmakers" as the old ones would Drop whole branches some weighing 20-50 tons.

[@browpetj]

Great vid Blair! What a redwood! I cant believe these big trees are in urban gardens there! Awesome trees to see outside the house. But people need space and open topsoil to enjoy these trees. Urban populus can't have their cake and eat it unless they put the work or money in to develop their trees over time. The top soil and paving just isnt designed to cope with these massive trees! I guess if they are naive they can have their cake for a decade or two :( For the bonsai analogy, the root to foliage is very true. In the UK, street trees are held back in large pots in the ground like this in recent times. The problem is that these trees will always out grow the space if it is restricted and require repotting to stay healthy. Councils know this and have a 'design life' for these trees Im sure. Ofcouse repotting cant be done on the street easily right now. Maybe with these air spades, the future is bright for remediation though. Without root work to sort gas and water exchange issues, these trees slowly deteriorate. They can prune the tops as much as the like. These pruned trees that have survived hundreds of years on the streets of UKs major cities are not in these modern 'pots in the ground.' They are like icebergs with roots stretching all down the street! And you can tell if the tree runs into restrictions, you can't prune as much off the unrestricted trees without running into problems with excessive growth... even if its a species correct thinning percentage. Unrestricted trees are hyper responders with pruning and restricted trees can take a set back. I expect setbacks would be worse in Cali with the heat and drought. With these old free rooted trees, the root system gives the small pruned top too much energy to rebound. Devastating for some spp. Working the roots of large trees may become easier with new tech. Until then I guess these urban peeps will have to have lower expectations... Or better still, move out to the countryside! Ha ha ha 😂

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Peter Brown great comment. Thank you for your insightful addition to this subject. Please continue to do so.

[@browpetj]

@@arboristBlairGlenn thanks man, that means alot coming from an experienced guy like you mate. All the informative stuff that is not fake news should be archived on YT. Like reddit. Maybe there are improvements to come. Stay safe.

[@geekay4703]

I feel pretty good about myself. I recognized the problem as root girdling and what causes it. Now I'm only lagging 97% behind your expertise.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Give yourself more credit. A big part of my career is seeing clearly.

[@jonathanguerrero59]

Great vids good knowledge do you think a redwood of both species 35 -40 feet apart from each other would be good with no other trees around, for planting

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Jonathan Guerrero redwood trees do well in a tight grove. A full covering of natural leaf mulch is a huge benefit for health. Enough water is important. A single tree by itself does not have the benefit of being supported by neighboring tree roots. Redwoods can root graft underground and a group becomes connected.

[@tgifford4]

Using the CODIT model to explain secondary metabolites of xylem in defence systems of temperate trees against decay fungi. academic.oup.com/aob/article/125/5/701/5550873 Here we review recent advances in our understanding of the role of SMs in trees in the context of CODIT, with emphasis on the relationship between defence, carbohydrate availability and the hydraulic system.We also raise the limitations of the CODIT model and suggest its modification, encompassing other defence theory concepts. We envisage the development of a new defence system that is modular based and incorporates all components (and organs) of the tree from micro- to macro-scales.

[@tymesho]

Briefly touching on the hackberry, I've never found a better (seasoned) wood for a fireplace/campfire. It burns clean, and hot. As for that redwood, aren't they amazingly resilient to damage, trying to heal themselves? This particular specimen would be a joy to climb, regardless of the damage. Blair, can you do a video about the dangers of your climb line "walking out" when just tying over a redwood limb, or spurring in to the base of a redwood branch, with the possibility of 'popping' off the entire branch? Thanks as always, another great vid.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Michigan Mister I would not spur a redwood if I was pruning. Even with a thick bark, it just goes against the grain for me. The sensitivity to limb breaking is very real.

[@tymesho]

Blair, That thick bark was exactly why I used spurs on the big ones. The cambium is deep, and the bark, dangerous. The way redwoods heal I've never seen damage?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Michigan Mister you can certainly get away without damage but on a homeowner job, leaving marks in the bark is just not the way I roll. Besides, Redwoods are too easy to climb

[@tymesho]

@@arboristBlairGlenn , lol, got me there, but safety always ruled with myself and crews. hey, remember the tar pots, then the false black paint cans? neither did anything but to make the land owners "feel" better. NOTHING was accomplished for the tree.

[@tymesho]

Glenn, also, up in Eureka, and north of there, there are countless redwoods that aren't "too easy" to climb.

[@lauriejackson8351]

Do all variety of redwood trees grow to be 200 to 300 ' tall

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Laurie Jackson no. And it is rare for the native trees to reach those heights

[@raphlvlogs271]

are hackberries aka celtis species invasive to your area?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Invasive? No

[@raphlvlogs271]

are redwoods prone to drought damages?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Yes

[@happyraccoon4791]

Must have tapped the city water main and just Took Off!

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Happy Raccoon sometimes I find a tree that grew on an old leach field.

[@mvblitzyo]

Even with all the flaws I think it was still a beautiful specimen.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Sometimes I get a redwood that has never been touched. My advice, “leave it alone”.

[@mvblitzyo]

arboristBlairGlenn I do that a lot 🙂

[@nidomhnail2849]

Interesting discussion on the location of the hackberry. The bounded roots deterred the growth but, the expected height and spread of the tree (40 to 60 feet, according to arborday.org) indicate that putting the tree in that location means a lifetime of maintenance. I am replacing a tree, and my local govt sources (DC area) offer a list of local, urban resilient trees. The list does not include any data on expected height and spread. Hackberry is on the list but, for my front yard, a wrong tree for the location. My choice is Eastern Redbud, as long as I account for the distance of its 20+-year-old trunk to the utility lines. Thank you for putting videos out that cover all of the issues in choosing a tree. My plan is to refer your KZbin channel to my local tree commission (yes, we have a local tree commission) and pass along their tree list with height and spread data. Would welcome any other information in choosing a new tree in an urban setting.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Much appreciated. A Hackberry can become a fairly large tree. Important to “project” the future growth.

[@Triplaglol]

The problem with those long limbs is like... theres nothing really to reduce them to, so essentially ur having to make topping cuts on those branches which don't really solve the problem in the long run... I think this tree might be doomed because of the topping cut it had.

[@tymesho]

Could see it was topped at the beginning of the vid. The unusual 'pointed' shape at the top.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Michigan Mister but it wasn’t clear from up in the tree. Frankly, I was surprised.

[@tymesho]

@@arboristBlairGlenn AGREED, but the top was unusual.

[@billstreet39]

Sent a video and ask a question about pruning a redwood and never got a reply

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

To my email? [e-mail]

[@andrewbetrosian2784]

Coast redwood

[@jaxturner7288]

Obviously spurs were out of the question, Hell Blair was probably barefoot to prevent unnecessary damage.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

True, I don’t damage trees with spurs when trying to take care of them. Barefoot?

[@nettles89]

arboristBlairGlenn I know of a guy who actually did climb barefoot, way back when. I’ve done it a few times myself when pruning my own crabapples at home and didn’t want to bother putting on boots, but something tells me it’s an OSHA violation 🤣

[@whowuzherreyt]

Dawn is only 45 yr 😮

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Your tree?

[@tomlynch9706]

On top of the poor pruning practices. Would overwatering and or fertilizer cause overgrowth in canopy loading perhaps? I've never seen a redwood, let alone worked them. I have seen a few blue spruce with overgrowth patterns, where the likely factor is overwatering (not to your redwood scale, but for the biome and species). Redwoods are such impressive trees! Thanks for sharing.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Tom Lynch the redwood needs a fair amount of water and in it’s native habitat, (coastal fog), it does well. In an urban setting where it gets irrigated, they can grow too fast.

[@michaelrupf776]

I think all that was snow damage..

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Possible

[@ilegalalien]

Hi Blair Does your son have the same passion for trees as you, or he has to work for you because there is a lack of qualified tree workers to help you?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Ilegal Alien he enjoys working with me. Strange question

[@CosmicStargoat]

It doesn't seem as if there were many correct pruning jobs in the past.

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Ruthless Goat trees have been worked on incorrectly for hundreds of years.

[@v3124]

It begs the question of what future generations will think about today's best practices!

[@piraats008]

It jas never been topped! End off 🤦‍♂️ “pruned” yes, topped. Absolutley not

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

I have seen many examples of fast growing species, completely absorbing an old top cut. I have removed some and cut them open to find out that they were topped. Evergreen ash is another very fast growing tree that often absorbs old top cuts. Only outside evidence is a change in trunk diameter.