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What to do with this little eucalyptus?
I picked up a neglected eucalyptus in a pot for £2.50. The garden centre owner said it’d be happier out of the pot.
trouble is, I’m now not sure what to do with it. I wanted some structure in our border to help the urban garden feel more enclosed, but I know eucalyptus grows so fast and steals all the water from that area. 
The garden is NE facing so this is the sunniest spot.
Someone suggested a sunken pot, but then I heard they just fall over after a few years.
Any suggestions welcome.
Last edited: 14 January 2018 21:16:49
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A sunken pot could be an idea if you want to try to restrict the roots and slow down the growth. If you want to keep them bushy and act as a screen, then you should prune them down often to keep the foliage in juvenile form. If not, you will just have thin rods with minimal foliage low down because the plant wants to be a tree. Looking at your photo, the garden fence looks quite low, so I think, re-pot into a larger size pot and sink the pot into the soil.
Last edited: 14 January 2018 22:26:33
I grow them as shrubs, coppicing them back to a few inches from the ground each Spring.
That way they grow about 4 - 5 feet in a season. It also ensures you keep the juvenile foliage, which is the bluest.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Thanks. So a big sunken pot and then I prune hard in summer? I’m not an expert gardener so may need your advice dumbing down! I’m never sure where to take it (cutting) down to.
Thank you
You can prune them back anytime from now to spring. Looking at your plant, you can give it a light prune down to half its current height to encourage branching out more, If not, you will have it shoot upwards with a few spindly sticks. A yearly prune should be enough. But you can cut off small branches throughout the season for flower arrangements.
Last edited: 14 January 2018 23:22:36