Can I grow coastal redwoods, with a little TLC, in Oklahoma?
I have a spot, very near to a pond, and in a place where they will be guarded from North winds until they are 30′ tall. If I supplementally water them through our hot summers, could they do well here?
2 Responses
FarmCzar
18 Aug 2011
rezonerebe
18 Aug 2011
During the long cold winters it might not survive because it is not use to it. But still it might work but its best to go with trees native to the area. If you have any additional Question call the mower hotline at 3172682063
Heat is more of a problem than cold. Redwoods thrive in the coastal fog strip along the California coast and nowhere else. In coastal California, there can be hot days in the summer, but the nights are almost always cool, down into the low fifties at night. Redwood bark soaks up moisture from the chilled fog, and redwood roots like a cool soil–conditions they won’t have in Oklahoma. Redwoods planted in central California, away from the marine layer effects, are stunted, squat, and unhappy-looking, struggling against the hot, drying sun day after day, with no break at night.
In Oklahoma, it would be worse. A redwood might grow there for a few years, but eventually, conditions will stress it to the point where it sickens and dies. The heat may weaken it, but the cold might kill it. Redwoods can take snow and cold, but I don’t know how an immature redwood would handle prolonged subzero temperatures–if you get them in Oklahoma.