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Eculyptus tree dying? HELP

NathatronNathatron Posts: 3
in Plants
Hi I planted a eculptus tree early last year (march time) and by the summer it has grown twice the size already. This summer it’s hardly grown and the stalk has started to peel showing bright red bark underneath. The leaves are browning on the edging aswell and it’s not looking in great health - in fact I’m worried it’s dying!!! I know nothing about gardening  :/ please help thankyou!! 

Posts

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Not a good sign ; possibly a Phytophthora fungal infection .
    If so , I don't know of any other option but removal and possible burning of the infected tree .
    I may be incorrect here and perhaps someone else on the forum will verify or offer another solution .
  • NathatronNathatron Posts: 3
     :'( no cure?????
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Eucalyptus trees do shed their bark.  See here - https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/eucalyptus/peeling-bark-on-eucalyptus.htm , so it may be normal, perhaps encouraged by the hot dry weather.
    However, there does seem to be an area of damage too, the long pale bit with dark edges, so there may well be some infection present as well.
     You could wait and see, or, if the damage does not reach down to the base of the tree, you could coppice it. Cutting it down almost to ground level will encourage new growth in a healthy tree and it will shoot again. The juvenile leaves are a different shape, and larger, and doing this regularly is one way to keep the tree a reasonable size.


  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=542

    Specialist treatments are available ,more as a preventative rather than a cure .
    I would imagine these would also be costly .

    Second to honey-root fungus , this can be a major killer of woody plants .

    I hope I'm wrong , as the demise of any tree is unfortunate .
    Try Buttercupdays method if you deem suitable ; if the roots are undamaged you may be pleasantly surprised and grow yourself a nice Eucalyptus shrub .
    Good luck either way !!
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  • NathatronNathatron Posts: 3
    Thanks for the info! The red bark doesn’t go to the root so I will wait and see if it travels. I’m not sure ian, I bought it without any label so didn’t have any information on where/how to plant it 
    thanks
    nathan
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    Eucalyptus will grow to 30 ft so I hope you have the room for it. All evergreen plants drop their leaves at some time so the browning of the leaves may be its natural cycle. I once planted a eucalyptus in my garden, it never peeled its bark and showed the red bark but it grew very tall and we could not grow anything within a 3/4 metre radius of it because it took all of the water and nutrients, Eventually we had to pay to have it cut down. The only way to control it is to cut out the leading growth and keepit trimmed back to form a bush but they are very vigorous growers.
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  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619
    I think Ian is right, it's just the variety that has red bark!

    You can coppice Eucalyptus trees, so if it really is sick you might cure it that way.
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