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The record heat hitting the north of the state this summer is taking its toll on trees and other vegetation.
Redwood trees, which are found in large numbers in Shasta County, appear to be particularly badly affected.
If you drive through any neighborhood in Shasta County, you’ll probably see the needles of redwood trees turning dry and brown.
“You have to remember that the redwood is a coastal plant that relies on water from fog. It needs 50 to 100 inches of rainfall per year, and that’s not what we get here in the valley. We don’t have fog,” says Gina Ritter, a buyer at Wyntour Gardens in Redding.
With summers getting hotter in the northern part of the state and more water restrictions on the horizon for homeowners, people need to make smart choices now when selecting trees and shrubs for their yard, according to Ritter and other plant experts.
More: California imposes statewide water restrictions of up to nearly 40% in some cities
“We really shouldn’t be planting things like redwoods and other plants that require a lot of water unless you have the wherewithal” and can afford the high water bills to keep them alive, Ritter said.
Rico Montenegro is a Redding-based arborist who teaches tree classes to the public. He says trees are a long-term investment.
“I’ve taught a number of courses on appropriate tree selection for our climate zone because a lot of people make really poor decisions when selecting trees for this region,” Montenegro said.
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Redwoods a popular topic of discussion
The Shasta Master Gardener program, staffed by volunteers trained by the University of California, often receives questions from residents about trees and plants.
Many of the inquiries concern redwoods.
Volunteers tell callers that their redwood trees are simply not adapted to this climate, that they have become accustomed to this weakening climate. At first they do well when planted in a lawn, but as they age they often grow too large for the site and need more water, people are told.
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Also, keep in mind that redwood trees have shallow roots, so if heat isn’t the problem, drought can also affect them, experts say.
Montenegro said there are genetic variations of redwood trees and some cope better with the hot summers in the Sacramento Valley than others.
He stressed, however, that this does not represent a recommendation for the redwood growing areas in the north of the state.
What to do with the brown redwood?
If you drive around Redding, you might notice someone taking their garden hose and spraying a sick tree.
Ritter of Wyntour Gardens said the redwood can absorb water through its needles. “So they open up and try to get moisture from the air and just dry out,” she said, explaining why they turn brown in extreme heat.
Randy LaPrelle, an ISA-certified arborist and estimator at About Trees in Redding, says the best time to spray the needles with water is late in the evening to prevent the needles from getting sunburned.
“You can spray the treetop with water,” he said.
The Kern County Master Gardners have published an advice article on redwood trees:
“What can be done? A little extra nitrogen as fertilizer can encourage new growth in the spring and mask the brown needles. (It is normal for the inner older needles to turn brown after a few years and be replaced by new growth.) Landscape plantings of brown redwoods almost always seem to be adequately watered, but increased irrigation can help. Although some cultivars are said to be better adapted to valley conditions, specimens of all cultivars seem to be affected.”
When pruning a redwood tree, it’s good to keep the tree’s canopy as low as possible to provide shade around the drip line, LaPrelle says.
Montenegro said that when watering a tree, you need to water where the roots are active, which is usually two to five times the radius of the tree’s trunk. “If you’re putting water near the trunk of the tree and the tree has been there for a long time, you’re not doing much,” he said.
Applying mulch is also important, he said. The mulch keeps the area moist longer so the tree doesn’t dry out as quickly after watering.
“Especially with shallow-rooted plants, you have to mulch, mulch, mulch,” Montenegro said.
Leimone Waite of the Shasta Master Gardner program said in a 2019 Record Searchlight Home & Garden column that trees need more water as they get taller.
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“The first signs of water stress in landscape plants and trees are wilted or droopy leaves that do not return to their normal shape (without additional water) until morning, curled or yellow leaves that may fold or fall off, leaves that turn grayish or bluish, sunburned leaves, and new leaves that are smaller than normal,” she wrote.
Some alternatives to consider
Although the climate there is wrong, there is an abundance of redwood trees in the northern part of the state.
“They grow fast and that’s what people want. They grow up to 3 feet a year. They’re beautiful, evergreen and provide a nice privacy screen,” said Ritter of Wyntour Gardens.
However, she said that if you want the look of a redwood tree, there are two other trees to consider, and both are better suited to the northern state’s climate.
The deodar cedar and the incense cedar tolerate drought better and can also tolerate heat, Ritter said.
Watering both trees thoroughly when they are young will help the trees survive summer heat and drought later, she said.
Montenegro said that in his tree courses he has a list of trees he recommends for the northern state’s climate zone.
“I always tell people: You won’t find any redwoods on my list,” he said.
Here are some trees that Montenegro recommends:
- Male Chinese Pistache
- Blue Oak
- Cork Oak
- Chitalpa
- Arizona Cypress
- Italian Cypress
- Afghan pine
- Californian pepper tree
“Don’t plant trees right now,” Montenegro said. “If you have problems with landscaping and shrubs now, you’re going to continue to have those problems.”
David Benda covers business, development and everything else going on for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly column “Buzz on the Street.” He is part of a team of dedicated reporters who investigate grievances, break news and tell other stories about your community. You can reach him at X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or call 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, subscribe today.
