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Eucalyptus Gunnii

ObliqueGeekObliqueGeek Posts: 53
in Plants
Bought this middle of last year. It was about 3fr tall and obviously trimmed and trained into a bush. 

It's now about 7ft and but bent due to the wind. What can I do with it?

I figured either trim it again and have a bush. It possibly select one pat, trim the rest back and have a small tree? 

Any suggestions?
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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Coppice it down to about 30cm or a foot.  It will resprout in spring and you will have lots of nice new round leaves.  You don't want to let it get into a tree really. Suddenly they get so large you need a tree surgeon in.
  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I’ve one of those…just finished coppicing it back today. I think that the right word. Planted 30 years ago. We cut it back to about three feet high ( a metre) it shoots away again every year it’s new branches growing to about 10 feet ( 3 metres). The new leaves are lovely . I’d dread to think how tall it would be if we’d never cut it back. Other than it’s annual haircut it gets no other attention and thrives here in NE England.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - coppicing is the way to treat them. You get the best colour that way too  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObliqueGeekObliqueGeek Posts: 53
    Any reason why I can't coppice it at the 6ft mark though? Ideally like to grow some other things under it. 

    Could I just pick one, two or three main 'trunks' and let it grow from there at the 6ft mark? Then cut it back each year,
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I don't see why not, but be aware that the only thing that grows under my Eucalyptus (perriniana) Is a phormium and  some echeveria. It gets very dry.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I planted one many years ago, in all innocence. Didn't coppice it and within a few years it was 20 ft. A tree surgeon almost cried when I asked him to cut it down. Nothing would grow underneath it, I was not popular as it was in the area of what was supposed to be the veg. patch. 
    They grow quickly and even coppiced take all of the moisture in the ground. 
  • ObliqueGeekObliqueGeek Posts: 53
    I don't want to get rid of it and I'm not really keen on having it as a low bush - I've already got plenty of low to mid height plants. I need a bit more height in the garden in general which is why I was thinking about doing this, I'm just not sure how it will look.

    I've also no idea how to go about it, if anyone has any pointers...

    I will definitely be keeping on top of it as I don't want it getting too big. 




  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    What you are considering is called pollarding and it's basically the same as coppicing but leaving a trunk to the height you require. 

    https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/coppicing-and-pollarding-trees/#:~:text=These pruning techniques are simple,real difference to your garden.&text=Coppicing is a traditional woodland,send up vigorous new shoots.

    I have done this with my eucalyptus in the front garden for the last few years and it's admired by quite a few of the neighbours. I'm really resisting the urge to take it out. I don't really want to but the trunk is getting thick and I don't want to struggle removing it. They are beautiful trees but they get to a point, even with constant maintainence, when you will probably consider taking it out. I've already got a small growing magnolia to replace it, it's just when I actually do.
  • ObliqueGeekObliqueGeek Posts: 53
    Do you have an photos? Would be interested to see. 

    So I just not sure how to get started - it's currently only just about at the height where I'd like to be pollarded, so should I just let it grow some more this year, then cut it back? It's just looking spindly messy at the moment. (excuse the rest, it's all a work in progress)




  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    That's still tiny. You need to choose a strong upward stem to form where your pollarding base will come from. You can keep the other growth and this will slow it's gain in height a little, or you can remove it so more energy is put into upward growth.  



    Not the greatest pic as it's getting dark and looks far better from the road. It was nicely shaped until the recent storms. The picture is taken from our front bedroom to give you an idea of size and the trunk is 10-12" in diameter. The fatsia is over 6ft and not that happy as it's had to be moved twice in the last two years and will be moving again back to its spot when our building work is done. It didn't mind being in close proximity to the eucalyptus, just not as happy in the wind and bright sun, and I've not had any problems growing anything under it tbh. 
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