Visited some friends in Selby last weekend.

They have a eucalyptus tree about as tall as their house and within a yard
of it.

They have a question. Is it a threat to the foundations?

I have a question too. May its growth be arrested or should its owner be,
for having planted it so unsuitably in the first place?!

Sue W.

--
Derby, England.

Don't try to email me using "REPLY" as the email address is NoSpam. Our
email address is "thewoodies2 at ntlworld dot com"

"Sue" wrote in message
...
Visited some friends in Selby last weekend.

They have a eucalyptus tree about as tall as their house and within a yard
of it.

They have a question. Is it a threat to the foundations?

I have a question too. May its growth be arrested or should its owner be,
for having planted it so unsuitably in the first place?!

Sue W.

--
Derby, England.

Don't try to email me using "REPLY" as the email address is NoSpam. Our
email address is "thewoodies2 at ntlworld dot com"


It sounds like it is still probably a fairly young eucalyptus-with a thin
trunk??
At this stage it will not cause any serious damage to foundations or
soil/clay structure but both these could occur when it really takes off.
It can be coppiced to any desired height and treated as a shrub,which is
what the owner may have originally intended.
I guess the overall verdict will be "Kill it"

"Sue" wrote in message
Visited some friends in Selby last weekend.

They have a eucalyptus tree about as tall as their house and within
a yard
of it.

They have a question. Is it a threat to the foundations?

Depending on what type of Euc, it could be, but I'd be at it with a
chainsaw before it has a chance to strangle them in their beds. I
stronly suspect that it will be hard to kill by chopping it as low as
needed (and low is better than high as it will grow back bushy).

I have a question too. May its growth be arrested or should its
owner be,
for having planted it so unsuitably in the first place?!

Both. Keep it sawn low and it will get bushy in all likelihood or can
be coppiced repeatedly (and it will probably have nicer juvenile
foliage than the current big tree).

Farm1 wrote:
Both. Keep it sawn low and it will get bushy in all likelihood or can
be coppiced repeatedly (and it will probably have nicer juvenile
foliage than the current big tree).

Agreed, they look almost alien with those disk like juvenile leaves when cut
back hard. You wouldn't think it was the same plant. It's what I would do
if it was too close to the house. But it could still develop huge roots even
if regularly coppiced.


Les

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Les Hemmings a.a #2251 SA

On 25/11/06 09:44, in article , "Les
Hemmings" wrote:

Farm1 wrote:
Both. Keep it sawn low and it will get bushy in all likelihood or can
be coppiced repeatedly (and it will probably have nicer juvenile
foliage than the current big tree).

Agreed, they look almost alien with those disk like juvenile leaves when cut
back hard. You wouldn't think it was the same plant. It's what I would do
if it was too close to the house. But it could still develop huge roots even
if regularly coppiced.

Because they don't have to go way down deep for water in this country, they
can often be shallow rooted and keel over in strong winds, IME. Personally,
I'd take the top right out of this one and keep it shrubby, as others have
suggested. But I'd keep a close eye on the root system. If it really is
that close to the house, it might be better to take it out altogether and
replace it with something that knows it's a shrub in the first place!

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/

Les Hemmings wrote:
Agreed, they look almost alien with those disk like juvenile leaves when cut
back hard. You wouldn't think it was the same plant. It's what I would do
if it was too close to the house. But it could still develop huge roots even
if regularly coppiced.

This is the current position with ours, E.Niphophilia. It is splendid
and cast fantastic shadows at the back, can be seen from every windows,
even from the velux windows in the loft we've just finished. Kept it
for years in a pot and planted it 8 years ago. It is within 2m from one
of our back doors and is home to a couple of turtledoves. We've looked
at every possibilities, and the only one from the tree surgeon who came
to prune our holly was to take it out. It is true that the roots are
shallow - already we've got concrete and tarmac (don't ask) being
lifted in the part of the side yard. It has cracked a raised bed made
of mix concrete and stone (made by previous owners) and its girth is
now a bit more than 1m. I still don't want to cut it - it is currently
covered of flowers and berries and as I speak I can see its red leaves
shine in the sun against a deep blue sky, swaying gently and throwing
shadows against the neighbours's wall.

I'll need a disaster to happen before I see some sense .... (

Thanks for all your replies!
I will pass them on to the Selby-ites and they can decide!

Sue W.

--
Derby, England.

Don't try to email me using "REPLY" as the email address is NoSpam. Our
email address is "thewoodies2 at ntlworld dot com"