Newly Planted Dawn Redwood

[jimgioia1]

Hi, I am new to this forum and I need some sound advice.

I planted a dawn redwood on September 1st. The tree is about 6 ft tall and the diameter of the trunk is about an inch and a quarter. I was advised to dig the hole, sprinkle a couple of handfuls of bio-tone on the bottom; place the tree; fill the hole halfway (I used topsoil and mixed in a bit of peat moss); sprinkle a couple of handfuls in again and fill it to the proper height with dirt. I slow-drip watered it for an hour the first week, then watered it every other day or so after that.

It has been in the ground for a month. It looks a little saggy but seems ok. Some of the needles are turning brown, but its October new in southeast lower michigan.

Does this sound like a tree that is doing fine AND should I treat it again with bio-tone before winter.

 

[ArtB]

sprinkle a couple of handfuls in again and fill it to the proper height with dirt.

Did you stomp the dirt down good and tight? If left too loose, roots can be left in air pockets.

If worried about its health, just go out and step on the soil all around the base to pack it down.

 

[jimgioia1]

sprinkle a couple of handfuls in again and fill it to the proper height with dirt.

Did you stomp the dirt down good and tight? If left too loose, roots can be left in air pockets.

If worried about its health, just go out and step on the soil all around the base to pack it down.

Thanks You Art. No further feeding or prep for winter?

 

[ArtB]

No further feeding or prep for winter?
Nope - if any roots died due to being in air pockets, 'feeding' does nothing for anything that died.

Transplanting a 6 ft tree is problematic at best. I've tried to dig 6 ft fir trees for Christmas trees and replant after Christmas.
They survive the first year, the 3 or 4 times I've tried they all looked great the next summer, all died the 2nd year even though never dug up the same tree again. And that was digging out with backhoe to get the entire root ball.

 

[BC WetCoast]

It's a dawn redwood, it's going to lose it's needles in the fall. Along with larch, one of the few conifers that do it.

If you haven't done it, you could cover the root mass with a layer of mulch ~2"

 

[jimgioia1]

Thank You. I will.

 

[Toronado3800]

Nice tree choice Jim. Not everything is as unique as can be with a good re-discovery story.

One beautiful thing about Metasequoia is they are difficult to over water. Make sure yours gets water.

Also, do NOT fertilize that tree at all late in the year. They grow late enough in the season as it is. The ones I have in the ground here are still green and even my couple rooted cuttings in pots are still showing soft growth. No need to excite the tree any lol.

Now, do you plan on leaving the lower limbs on for that cool gnarly trunk or are you gonna limb her up some for that smooth formal look?