Community Sequoia Tree Planting on Palomar Mountain
Planting a sequoia seedling
Above: A photograph of a seedling in its second year of growth protected by wire mesh below and above grade.
Start by digging a hole at least eight inches wide and twelve inches deep. Place the seedling with one hand and refill the hole with soil loosely around the seedling, packing the earth but not too tightly. Water the seedlings at least once/daily in the first few days and twice weekly during dry spells for the first two years. After two years, they should not require watering unless we are in a protracted dry spell.
If on Palomar Mountain, you likely have gophers and deer that may attack your seedling, gophers from underneath, and deer from above. Therefore, I strongly suggest planting your seedlings in a "cage." There are two types I have used, differing in cost and effort:
(1) Cages with ½” galvanized mesh, 8-12” in diameter and usually 30” long. You can see some photos attached above and below. These typically extend 8-12 inches below grade and 18-24 inches above. Chicken wire with 1" holes will let gophers through, so I advise against using it.
Below left: The hole left by a sequoia seedling after being pulled into a gopher run. Below right: Remnants of a seedling eaten by a gopher.
(2) Plastic mesh tubes, as shown below (right), are available for the 2024 spring planting event. These tubes are 30" tall and 5" in diameter. Though not as sturdy as the galvanized tubes, they should last the first few years until the tree girth exceeds their diameter.
