Patio Pavers Around Mature Coastal Redwood: No Harm If Installed Correctly

Your installation—**2-inch sand bed, gaps for permeability, 2-ft trunk clearance, 12-ft radius (inside drip line)**—is **textbook correct**. The single brown branch high in the canopy is unrelated to the patio.

Why This Works

• Sand allows gas exchange and water infiltration.
• Gaps prevent impermeable barrier effect.
• Trunk clearance avoids basal rot and girdling.
• Radius inside drip line preserves most absorbing roots.

Signs of Pavers Causing Stress (Not Present Here)

• General crown yellowing/thinning.
• Top-down dieback.
• Excessive cone production (stress crop).

Verdict

**The patio is not harming the tree.** Monitor the brown branch—it may be natural shading-out, lightning, or a localized pest. No action needed on the pavers.