Eucalyptus dying after transplanting - please help!

dilby · August 2022

Hi all - I transplanted a cider gum into a new garden bed yesterday and it’s already starting to dry up and turn. I’m hoping someone can help me save it! I realise that doing this in a heatwave in the heatwave was probably a bad move; I’m an Aussie expat and just know these to be hardy and this isn’t even that hot to what I’m used to - I did it in cool of morning but I’m wondering if it’s still a silly thing to have done! Either way I really hope it’s not a goner as it means quite a bit to me! Thanks so much, photo attached (top shoots starting to shrivel and all the leaves have gone crispy). I’ve given it good soaks including when I planted it (didn’t use rooting hormone). I had purchased this from a nursery at 7 foot high and planted it in a bed of mine for a year where it grew another foot until moving it here. As far as im aware I didn’t cut through any major roots and moved a decent root ball.

Arthur1 · August 2022

I think you have answered your own question , moving a young tree during time of maximum transpiration. Trees take up water through their root hairs which are single celled structures found at the tips of the fine fibrous roots. So it is really difficult to move a tree, especially if it has not been prepared beforehand. A nursery would undercut to sever the large roots and encourage the fibrous roots.
To save it you need to minimise transpiration as well as water the soil. Keep it cool with regular misting. Can you shade it or wrap it in wet hessian. Ideally you would cut hard back but I presume you want a standard tree not a Bush. Keep your fingers crossed and pray for rain.

dilby · August 2022

Kate 7 said:

I think you have answered your own question , moving a young tree during time of maximum transpiration. Trees take up water through their root hairs which are single celled structures found at the tips of the fine fibrous roots. So it is really difficult to move a tree, especially if it has not been prepared beforehand. A nursery would undercut to sever the large roots and encourage the fibrous roots.
To save it you need to minimise transpiration as well as water the soil. Keep it cool with regular misting. Can you shade it or wrap it in wet hessian. Ideally you would cut hard back but I presume you want a standard tree not a Bush. Keep your fingers crossed and pray for rain.

Thanks so much kate - everything is a learning opportunity I suppose! I can’t really work out a way to wrap it but I’ve missed it thoroughly and will continue to do so: rain on the way Monday, I’ll hope it survives till then. If it drops leaves am I right in saying they won’t grow back in the same place? Also I did read that late summer is the right time to transplant evergreen trees, so if this doesn’t work is it wise to go and buy one from a nursery and replace it within the next couple of weeks?

Arthur1 · August 2022

October onwards is a good time to plant evergreens.
Dropping leaves is a safety feature for the plant as it will minimise transpiration. If it survives and leaves grow back they may arise on the main trunk and stems, where you wouldn't expect them. But not sure that matters.

punkdoc · August 2022

Water it heavily, 2 or 3 cans every few days and it might be ok.

Plantminded · August 2022

Seaweed extract applied as a foliar feed may help it recover from transplant shock.

punkdoc · August 2022

I don’t think feeding sick plants is sensible, water alone is the best option, until the plant recovers.

Plantminded · August 2022

It’s a tonic more than a feed as it contains little of the NPK ingredients. It was recommended to me by Eucalyptus tree specialists Hardy Eucalyptus when my tree suffered similar symptoms. (It’s worth having a look at their website @dilby.)

Loxley · August 2022

Water it excessively. Make a sort of pond around it. You're going to have to treat it a bit like a giant cut flower...

Silver surfer · August 2022

Health warning......
Eucalyptus trees are very fast growing trees.

https://www.cfgphoto.com/photo-77501.htm

I do hope you and the neighbours behind the fence have large gardens...and aren't hoping to grow anything else.

We inherited a young Eucalyptus gunnii ..common name Cider gum in our previous garden..
It was on a hill on the top of a bank.
We were trying to grow fruit and veg on a terrace plot 3ft/1m below.
The roots were everywhere very shallow and white...they spread at least 30ft/10m from the trunk.
The blinking Eucalyptus took ever drop of water from the ground...the soil ended up like dust.
Nothing wanted to grow in the area.
We gave up trying.
The old dead leaves are a pain when they drop off the tree.

As it grows IF you /or your neighbours have a lawn the large roots will be right on the surface...please look at/read 2nd link.

I do not think this is a tree suitable for small town gardens.
Please think carefully about the future.

https://www.barewalls.com/art-print-poster/eucalyptus-tree-roots-at-haena_bwc60240896.html

https://arbtalk.co.uk/forums/topic/118659-how-to-deal-with-surface-eucalyptus-tree-roots/

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eucalyptus_Roots_on_the_Spring_Creek_Mine_Rd.jpg

Plantminded · August 2022

I agree with everything you have said @Silver surfer. They are lovely trees but need space which most domestic gardens in the UK cannot offer. I ended up removing the three that I had for exactly the same reasons that you have outlined. They really do need a lot of water which is going to be an ongoing problem for you @dilby. There are lots of other trees that would suit your location. If you are determined to preserve it, the staff at Hardy Eucalyptus are very knowledgeable and I'm sure would be happy to advise you: Buy Eucalyptus Tree UK | Hardy Eucalyptus Grafton Nursery (hardy-eucalyptus.com)

Eucalyptus dying after transplanting - please help!

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