How to Care for a Coast Redwood Tree

Select the largest available planting container for a coast redwood tree. Move the tree to a larger container every one to two years if possible.

Grow a coast redwood tree outside only in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 7 through 9. This tree prefers areas where the lowest temperature during the year is between zero and 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Its natural habitat frequently has fog, especially in the morning.

Prepare a soil mixture consisting of two parts loam, two parts peat moss and one part sand. This provides a slightly acidic soil with the good water drainage that a coast redwood prefers.

Remove the coast redwood sapling from its nursery container. Place it in the planter at the same level in the soil as it was in the container. Pack the soil around the tree and water the soil with 1 inch of water to thoroughly soak the soil.

Water a redwood tree at least once per week during the growing season with 1 to 2 inches of water to keep the soil moist. Spray the leaves with a fine mist to keep the leaves moist. This tree prefers very high humidity levels, so it typically grows best in a greenhouse.

Water a dormant redwood tree only as needed to keep the soil from drying out. A redwood drops its leaves when it goes dormant for the year, which typically occurs when the temperature drops to 48 degrees Fahrenheit