From a trial of 67 redwood clones, we have only 12 left. The others have succumbed to frost, grass competition and trampling by a large mob of kangaroos that frequents the more isolated ImLal North site.
Wade Cornell from Diversified Forest Ltd in Queensland supplied the clones almost three years ago. He reports that some of the other trial sites have fared much better, with trees up to three metres, compared to our puny 30cm.
"The exception is [a site] where they planted (against instructions) in a
fresh cut-over where there were no (appropriate) mycorrhizae available
to the trees," Wade says. " Your site would have definitely had appropriate mycorrhizae as they are shared by the grasses that looked abundant on your site.
"Out of season frost can kill young redwoods, but they are usually OK
with -6 degrees and some can take up to -12 degrees in winter. When
heavily frosted they will 'bronze' with the leaves turning a
reddish-brown and take a while to start growing in spring. It's a
little hard to tell from the photo exactly what's going on, but they
didn't look 'bronzed' and more like they are just struggling with other
site/environmental factors."
Phil and I plan to reguard the survivors to protect them from roos. There's still a big enough clump of the sequoia to make an impressive entrance to the ImLal North site.
Wade Cornell from Diversified Forest Ltd in Queensland supplied the clones almost three years ago. He reports that some of the other trial sites have fared much better, with trees up to three metres, compared to our puny 30cm.
"The exception is [a site] where they planted (against instructions) in a
fresh cut-over where there were no (appropriate) mycorrhizae available
to the trees," Wade says. " Your site would have definitely had appropriate mycorrhizae as they are shared by the grasses that looked abundant on your site.
"Out of season frost can kill young redwoods, but they are usually OK
with -6 degrees and some can take up to -12 degrees in winter. When
heavily frosted they will 'bronze' with the leaves turning a
reddish-brown and take a while to start growing in spring. It's a
little hard to tell from the photo exactly what's going on, but they
didn't look 'bronzed' and more like they are just struggling with other
site/environmental factors."
Phil and I plan to reguard the survivors to protect them from roos. There's still a big enough clump of the sequoia to make an impressive entrance to the ImLal North site.
