Hmm, not sure why the images didn't show up, so if anyone who knows how to post them could repost them, I'd appreciate it. Otherwise, the links do work. Thanks!

Treat Dawn Redwood as a deciduous shade tree. Plant in a location you might want a shade tree like an oak or large maple. They are great trees.

your images:
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What plans do you have for your back yard? These trees get huge, with correspondingly huge root systems. In the absence of any other information, I would say to plant it right smack in the middle of your back yard. Trust me, it's not going to be 4 feet high for long.

Looks like a good spot. Dax

i wouldnt plant a tree at this time of year.. here in my z5 .. let alone z7 ...

other than auntie having a greenhouse.. whats her tree background..

is it ball and burlap .. or potted???

how big is the pot this 4 foot tree is in ...

ken

Thanks for all of the quick responses. And thanks gardener for posting the pics. The plant is currently potted in one of those black, very thin pots. I'd take a picture, but it's not much to look at. Just tall and thin. The only things that concern us is that we currently have no landscaping or outdoor areas built yet. We will eventually have a large back patio and may add on to the back of our house on the left side for a master bedroom, although that is not decided yet. We would like to put it somewhere where we can avoid moving it for the tree's sake. Our neighbor has 3 sweet gum trees (I believe that is what they are) in the middle of her back yard and they look very nice and give nice shade (they are not new trees though). I'm thinking maybe to plant it towards the back of our lot in the middle and maybe get a couple more dawns to plant with it or another nice tree?

Dawn redwoods are one of my favorite.

They prefer moister sites rather than dry.

Full sun is good in my zone 6.

The trunk stays more polite and the tree can appear very formal if limbed up. There is a beautiful picture someplace on the conifer forum of perhaps a forty footer in someone's yard.

I do love dawn redwood but for the sake of variety plant no more than two. Plenty of other great treea out there.

Nice lot btw.

Oh, and I'm not sure my wife's aunts experience... they've owned their greenhouse/farm for 50+ years and sell all kinds of plants and trees... but they don't specialize in trees.

Being a conifer not the same tall-branching habit as an oak. Needs to be placed where there will not be a bunch of sawing off of low branches.

Grows over 100' tall.

Bboy, you are correct of course concerning the pyramidal habit but respectfully I believe Metasequoia looks fine limbed up a bit.

Not sure on proper citations but Dax took these photos in Rock Island and posted them in another thread. I am using my photobucket so as not to steal his bandwidth.

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This Dawn redwood can be mowed and walked under and the bark is quite striking.

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Yes, I just saw that picture yesterday and it looks great. I read that it's best if you can hold off trimming the lower branches until after the tree is mature. I am going to take pictures of the potted one when I get home from work and see what you guys think about the two spots I'm considering the most.

I held off as long as I could on this Dawn Redwood. The lower branches got shaded out and died.
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I cut the lower branches off this one as soon as I dared.
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Mike

I planted this one about 33 years ago. Last Fall when this picture was taken, it measured approximately 77 ft.
The lower limbs are dying and will have to be removed. Too much shade, I guess.
I hope the information I've given you will help you decide where to place yours.
I would plant the variety 'Ogon' if you can. The needles are a beautiful yellow. I will try to find a picture of mine.
Mike
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Here it is!
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Sorry for the delay, it was pouring yesterday and I couldn't get the pictures until today. Here are some pics of our back, side and front yards. Also a pic of the tree the town is removing, a pic of the only tree we will have, and a pic of the little guy.

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Mike- How would i tell which variety it is? It's the one in the picture, but it was a gift to me, all I was told was that it is a Dawn Redwood

Realize this is an old thread, but these trees GET HUGE AND FAST! Plant out in the open away from power lines, septic systems, etc. Don't plant them near a house and it's foundation due to their shear size and root system. Overall a solid pick for a yard tree if you have the space.