I'm usually extremely patient with all the questions and replies from even the newest newbies, but look - Pam gave you good advise; and you've revealed through the nature of your questions that the base of knowledge you're operating from is not broad or extensive enough to dispute it, or even mount a legitimate argument against it. Perhaps I'm misreading things, but it appears to me that you'd like to be spoon-fed your answers, and if they aren't what you wanted to hear, you'd rather stay the very course you question than change it. I stopped offering advice simply because it quickly became apparent you weren't paying much heed to it anyway. If you had armed yourself with some of the knowledge offered by following the links, you would at least be able to frame your questions in such a way that they would lead to usable answers, and you would also be cognizant of some of the reasoning set Pam and others used to formulate their advice. "...the pond soil is pretty much Turface. I checked." Ok - I checked too. So how does it compare in physical size to Turface? Is it as porous overall? What % of the product is sand? "It looks like the same exact thing." How can it when the PRIMARY ingredient is sand? "It provides aeration for the plant." Whether or not it provides aeration depends on what volume it's used in - what % of the total volume it comprises - and what the size of the other particulates are. IOW - you cannot make this blanket statement. "And besides, coast redwoods love water anyway." So do Labrador retrievers. If you're so sure they'll (redwoods) love the water so much, then any old soil will suit them fine - garden soil holds tons of water .... The FACT is, they don't love water. Like almost all trees, they require good aeration for their vitality, which is not always easy to supply in container culture, which leads us full circle to the concept that all three of the experienced growers expanded upon at one point or another. Good luck. Al

Closer to the coast you are, easier it is to get them through the dry season. Natives--Pacific Ironwood, Prunus ilicifolia, Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) perhaps. Schinus molle are a non-native invasive pest, eventual pavement-lifters, and drop a lot of litter, but they would probably survive. Ask at Las Pilitas in Escondido, they may have some suggestions. Here is a link that might be useful: Las Pilitas native plant nursery

what is your soil .... if anything but clay ... with good drainage ... dig hole.. remove from pot .. untangle or trim circling roots ... make inverted cone in hole.. set plant on top so that it is at the proper planting depth ..... refill half way with the soil extracted ... drench in thoroughly.. packing a bit to insure it wont sink .... when the water has drained ... refill the rest of the soil .... drench again .... add a 2 foot mulch ring around the whole plant ..... do not water again.. until.. inserting your index finger.. to the second knuckle.. the soil feels dry or hot [hot meaning it will dry in a few days ..] .... most conifers prefer a good drink .. and then NOT all that much water .... water deeply but infrequently ... and use your finger ... when i plant.. it might end up weeks or months before more water is needed ... based on the vagaries of mother nature ... make sure it goes into winter.. properly watered .... you are responsible for PROPER watering.. for two years.. and then.. it should be pretty much free range thereafter .... should be a pretty easy one to succeed with ... let us know if clay is an issue good luck ken Here is a link that might be useful: should have thought of this before i typed all that ....

For someone not familiar with exactly what landscape design is or the process in how it is achieved, it is easy to assume that a listing of plants that might work in a specific situation is an actual design question. It is not :-) Plant selection is the very last step in developing a landscape design...........the decorations on the icing of the design cake. This is very likely why you are receiving what you believe to be extraneous advice or being asked irrelevant questions. Responders are just trying to get though the various stages of the design process to give you what are asking for. But even with those questions answered (which you have declined to do), you will seldom get specific suggestions. Plant selection is extremely regional in nature and there are literally dozens of possibilities for any given situation. Early on, it was suggested you post your queries in a regionally appropriate forum. There at least you will receive suggestions for regionally appropriate plants. Another method is to tour through nearby neighborhoods and see what everyone else is growing and make note of what you like. If you don't know the plants in question, they can be readily identified on the Name That Plant forum. Or visit a local nursery/garden center to see what's on offer. Or visit someplace like UBC Botanical Garden for some inspiration.