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Commission weighs creating nursery for Sequoia seedlings, looking to plant dozens
Summary
The Shade Tree Commission discussed buying between 25 and 50 Sequoia seedlings, creating a 30-by-60-foot nursery plot for early growth, and coordinating with the parks department for approval; members noted survival rates are uncertain and the project requires site staking and approval before planting.
Commissioners discussed a plan to acquire a larger batch of Sequoia seedlings and to establish a small on-site nursery to grow them for several years before transplanting.
The chair summarized the approach: “The plan was to set up a, like, a 30 by 60 spot, cut the sod out, put in landscape fabric and mulch, put the trees in, put the buckets next to them, have them watered every year, and get them to grow for a couple years before we can spread them around.” The commission said the parks department must approve the nursery location before the group can proceed.
Members said they initially planned to buy 25 sequoias but found a better deal that could supply 50. The commission discussed realistic survival expectations and growth rates: one member recalled reading expected growth of “6 to 8 inches a year” while another said they “could grow a foot a year” in early years. Commissioners acknowledged uncertainty about survival rates and said they could distribute surplus seedlings to county partners if many thrive.
The group identified a potential nursery site behind Arch Avenue Park with truck access to facilitate watering; the commission asked members to stake the site and return with a formal proposal and parks approval at the next meeting.
Next steps: Staff and commission volunteers will mark a proposed nursery location, seek parks department sign-off, and finalize how many seedlings to buy. The commission did not finalize purchases at the meeting.
