I have an 85' 25yo redwood tree four feet from my basement wall. No damage yet. Do I need to remove this tree or let it grow?
If you are on a clay soil there might be some trouble in the future. The fact that you have asked indicates there may be a reason to take it out anyway, that reason being that you are bothered or at least concerned. A home garden is not a forest, forest giants often do not fit on typical dwelling sites - dwarfing the structure visually, clogging gutters with debris etc. even if not causing physical damage. The exception is where a large tree makes a house appear to be a cottage on an estate, this effect depends on it not being visually apparent that it isn't. In most instances a big tree looming over a less-than-mansion-sized house looks too big for the setting.
Not in clay but very rich river bottom loam here in Santa Cruz. Yes, I'm concerned, but both for the tree and any damage the roots could/may do. Do I need to remove the tree or can I allow it to grow on in peace?
Four feet seems awfully close. Is yours a bushfire area? If so I would definatly remove it. Full of good fire oils. Get some proffesional advice might be a good idea Liz
I'm in downtown Santa Cruz. Professional advise has been mixed with no one really sure what I should do. Of course the tree companies say to remove it. Some arborists say leave it, as the roots will not be a problem. Others say remove it. Guess I'm looking for an expert opinion from someone who really is familiar with redwood root systems.
Well, Spirit out of that mob I would have thought the arborist should at least know the root system. Sounds like a great tree but the few I have seen here they are awfully big. I guess it depends on how long you are going to live there and whether the tree might cause some re sale problems down the road even if the root system is ok. 4 foot is still very close. I just had a look at one of my native trees [Casuarina] and it is about 12 feet and I am wondering if it is too close. It has a tall lankey pine type growth and its 25 years old. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casuarina Liz
Redwood isn't a fire risk, the bark is almost asbestos-like. But for a tree which can get a trunk 4 metres in diameter, it really is a bit too close for long-term safety.
