Folsom Redwoods' Problems Go Beyond California Drought

FOLSOM (CBS13) — They are the second-largest trees in the world and indigenous to coastal cities, but in Folsom, people are paying thousands of dollars to get rid of the redwoods.

The trees are massive and found in practically every other front yard or backyard in Folsom, but people like Katy Edwards are paying $1,600 to remove just one tree.

For someone attached to her trees, this story is a troubling one for Edwards to tell.

"It's horribly sad, because this is a beautiful area," she said.

A small plot of black mulch is the gravesite for her once-favorite redwood. It died along with her grass and flowers, and she had no choice but to hire someone to chop it down.

The situation is no different for her neighbors in Folsom. Some are shelling out thousands just to have the trees pulled out. In some cases, people simply can't afford it and just pray the worst doesn't happen.

"I mean, you can see, you know, that's a tall tree, and if it decides to come this way or any way, it's going to hit one of the houses," said Tom Dincolo.

Historically, Folsom wasn't a region with so many coastal trees. They were planted more than 20 years ago, because they were inexpensive and accessible.

"I would say there's over 10,000 redwood trees that have been planted in the city," said third-generation arborist Chad Dykstra.

After years of drought, he says about 25 percent of the city's redwoods are "under stress" and outgrowing their space.

"They've been overplanted pretty bad," he said. Not only that, they plant them so close to home, to neighbor's property line, and it gets a point- where not a lot of thought went in when they installed the trees."

He says watering may bring them back.