Giant Sequoia Conundrum

[jsdwi]

I have a young 10 foot Giant Sequoia in the ground that I need to move. Because it needs to be moved, I’m debating whether is a viable candidate to become a large bonsai. I’m not sure if it will survive a move one way or another so I want to figure out the best chance for it to survive.

Trunk at its base is about 5 inches and I have been trimming lower branches throughout the years.

I can’t find any information on Giant Sequoias this size that have been potted into a bonsai.

If anyone in this community has any experience or knowledge to share, I would greatly appreciate your feedback!

If this is even viable I would cut it to 3 feet or so.

Note: I have five other Giant Sequoias on my property, but I need to move this guy before it grows any bigger because of new rules in my mountain community regarding tall trees around power lines.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Ruddigger]

Well, you have to move it anyway. Throw it in a growing pot and let us know what happens. I have one in the ground I’ll try to bonsai too, but its too soon still.

 

[rockm]

Giant Sequoia - Bonsai Empire

About Craig Coussins' relations with the Giant Sequoia: The Giant Sequoia. When I was ill with Cancer back in 2000 I made the pilgrimage to Sequoia National Par...

www.bonsaiempire.com

 

[jsdwi]

Well, you have to move it anyway. Throw it in a growing pot and let us know what happens. I have one in the ground I’ll try to bonsai too, but its too soon still.

I’ll keep you posted

 

[jsdwi]

Giant Sequoia - Bonsai Empire

About Craig Coussins' relations with the Giant Sequoia: The Giant Sequoia. When I was ill with Cancer back in 2000 I made the pilgrimage to Sequoia National Par...

www.bonsaiempire.com

Thank you

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Here is the only convincing sequoia bonsai I've seen in person, from the 2024 PBE exhibition, the tree in Craig Coussins' post is more representitive of what they actually look like in nature

 

[jsdwi]

I’ll keep you posted

I’m thinking through my strategy… I’m leaning towards keeping it taller, 5’ to 6’ similar to Craig Coussin, so cutting about half the current height. I’ll prep prior to pulling it in the spring. I’m at 5200 feet in the Sierra Nevada's and a little drier than Sequoia NP, but I care for my trees diligently so hopefully potting it won’t be too stressful. I’ll update with progress

 

[PowerTap]

How long do you have before you move it? If you plan to reduce it's height you might be able to take your time and chop it in place and progressively improve the roots so it has a better chance of surviving a transplant.

I know that a lot of folks will dig around the perimeter of a yamadori a year before digging. This encourages root growth close to the trunk rather than letting it grow really wide.

 

[rockm]

I’m thinking through my strategy… I’m leaning towards keeping it taller, 5’ to 6’ similar to Craig Coussin, so cutting about half the current height. I’ll prep prior to pulling it in the spring. I’m at 5200 feet in the Sierra Nevada's and a little drier than Sequoia NP, but I care for my trees diligently so hopefully potting it won’t be too stressful. I’ll update with progress

Fwiw. 5-6 feet tall is waaaaaaaaaay too tall proportionality for that taper less trunk. You do better chopping to one third the height growing a new apex. A 5-6 foot sequoia bonsai should have a pretty massive trunk to match up with the height. Coussins tree has pretty dramatic taper. Without it the tree would really work well in the eye and would just look spindly

 

[Bu-Jetjet]

Nice-lookin' PINE

 

[jsdwi]

How long do you have before you move it? If you plan to reduce it's height you might be able to take your time and chop it in place and progressively improve the roots so it has a better chance of surviving a transplant.

I know that a lot of folks will dig around the perimeter of a yamadori a year before digging. This encourages root growth close to the trunk rather than letting it grow really wide.

Yes, thank you... I am leaning in the direction that you are suggesting. Prepping for a year or more before moving it to increase its survival rate. I will post regular updates.

 

[jsdwi]

Fwiw. 5-6 feet tall is waaaaaaaaaay too tall proportionality for that taper less trunk. You do better chopping to one third the height growing a new apex. A 5-6 foot sequoia bonsai should have a pretty massive trunk to match up with the height. Coussins tree has pretty dramatic taper. Without it the tree would really work well in the eye and would just look spindly

There is more

Fwiw. 5-6 feet tall is waaaaaaaaaay too tall proportionality for that taper less trunk. You do better chopping to one third the height growing a new apex. A 5-6 foot sequoia bonsai should have a pretty massive trunk to match up with the height. Coussins tree has pretty dramatic taper. Without it the tree would really work well in the eye and would just look spindly

I agree the more I look at it. There is a better taper in person... the camera seems to be flattening it out more than in real life because I'm shooting down at it, but definitely it would benefit from a stronger taper. My biggest concern is whether there will be adequate new growth. My original plan was to cut it 3 feet and develop a new apex while letting the trunk thicken. To give myself a better chance of success, I have decided to slow down the process and prep while it is still in the ground and wait 1+ years to train and develop it properly..

 

[19Mateo83]

possible inspiration for your tree, the methuselah sequoia

 

[TrimmyWhimmy]

Giant Sequoia are beautiful and amazing trees. Not sure if they're worth turning into bonsai usually. They're always eager to drop their lower branches. But if you have to dig it out anyway...