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Post by meakinsl on Jan 18, 2011 17:47:30 GMT
Hello, New to forum and new to gardening - have put two posts up on different subjects (both to do with trees). Have recently bought house with a eucalyptus tree in back photo below :  It is quite near the house and seems to be leaning ever so slightly towards house. Living in swansea near coast where get a lot of wind and sways a lot in the high winds. Reading on net says that these can get quite a bit bigger each year (already taller than house). I got a tree surgeon round to go through options - we really like the tree and be shame to see it go. One suggestion guy made was to chop it just below height of fence - basically leaving just a long 2m trunk with no branches (cut would be below bottom branch in picture growing right) - he said would then grow back quite quickly into a more manageable tree. He said could be done this time of year no problems but all advice seen on net is to cut a eucalyptus in the summer not the winter. Any advice geratly appreciated both on approach and time of year to cut. Many thanks Lawrence |
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Jan 18, 2011 18:28:43 GMT
Hi Lawrence
I have a Eucalyptus tree, they will grow huge and quickly. My tree is at least half as big again and is only ten years old. There are a few things you should be aware of which could effect how you treat your tree.
If it is close to the house the roots could cause problems to your foundations. You should also check your buildings insurance, many insurers are putting in clauses regarding trees, if they are within a certain distance of your house you will not be covered if it damages your house.
I had a second Eucalyptus which blew over during a storm. I cut the top off leaving about a metre of trunk. It has sent lots of shoots out from below the cut. I shall wait and see what happens.
I did cut mine down during the winter, it hasn't done any damage.
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Post by peony on Jan 18, 2011 18:56:32 GMT
I also had a eucalyptus which came down in strong winds, it was about 20' tall but had quite shallow roots. The tree surgeon who cut it up for me said he had dealt with quite a few over the years which had come down because of storms.
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Post by steve on Jan 18, 2011 19:21:53 GMT
They do seem prone to shallow rooting and blowing over, one bonus of having it cut to a small trunk is the juvenile foliage is usually better than the adult foliage
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Post by Cherry on Jan 19, 2011 7:53:43 GMT
I have two Snow Gums and one will be pruned in the early spring. This is a safer time to do it. The other point to make is that you are suffering quite a lot of wind and the Cider Gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) will not like this. They do topple over. Peony is right. They are shallow rooted. I would not grow this variety here in the fens as it is too exposed. The new foliage will be lovely when you cut it to the length you wish and it will be more stable.
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Post by wildlifefriendly on Jan 20, 2011 18:57:13 GMT
I wonder if Lawrence is going to return to read the the advice he asked for?
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Post by sweetpea on Jan 20, 2011 19:25:28 GMT
I wonder if Lawrence is going to return to read the the advice he asked for?[/quote] Well if he does I hope he manages to do the right thing. I know I would always listen to what cherry has to say about Australian stuff and the others are also very knowledgeable. Who needs Nigel Coburn when you got this lot?  (sorry nigel if you look in.) |
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Post by Cherry on Jan 20, 2011 20:03:11 GMT
SP I was in Sherbrooke Forest in Victoria with my second child in a push chair and had to run like mad when I heard a huge gum tree coming down. We could have been killed. It was a still day and gum trees just do this. I still went on with my walk and saw and heard the lyrebirds. We weren't namby pamby like people are today. I remember now, we were showing some English people around and it is quite near where we lived.
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Post by sweetpea on Jan 20, 2011 20:51:43 GMT
I remember all this 'gravel' I had to sweep up at a customers house. It was the seeds, very hard as i recall.
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Post by meakinsl on Jan 21, 2011 10:16:14 GMT
Thanks for all advice - apologies for delay in coming back, sounds like need to do something and sounds like a big chop is wise given the shallow roots and it's position, hope it survives and be good to have a smaller more manageable version of what is there now.
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