I have an approx 3 year old eucalyptus which is about 12 feet tall on
one stem. I think I should cut it back to grow bushy. I've not grown
one before. It's by a 6 ft fence.
3 questions:
When should I cut it?
What height should I cut it back to? 4 feet? More or less?
If I leaveit will it just go on up or will it bush out?
TIA

Pam in Bristol

On Feb 11, 10:48*pm, Pam Moore wrote:
I have an approx 3 year old eucalyptus which is about 12 feet tall on
one stem. *I think I should cut it back to grow bushy. *I've not grown
one before. *It's by a 6 ft fence.
3 questions:
When should I cut it?
What height should I cut it back to? *4 feet? *More or less?
If I leaveit will it just go on up or will it bush out?
TIA

Pam in Bristol

Pam when I lived in the City some years ago I had eucalyptus, but
without knowing what species is yours, I don't know if I can help?

Judith

On 11/2/09 22:48, in article ,
"Pam Moore" wrote:

I have an approx 3 year old eucalyptus which is about 12 feet tall on
one stem. I think I should cut it back to grow bushy. I've not grown
one before. It's by a 6 ft fence.
3 questions:
When should I cut it?
What height should I cut it back to? 4 feet? More or less?
If I leaveit will it just go on up or will it bush out?
TIA

Pam in Bristol

If it's one of the large growing ones, it will go on up and quite quickly
but won't bush out any more than is natural to its type.
This site will help you because it mentions different types and various ways
of dealing with cutting them back. You have to scroll down nearly to the
bottom of the page.
http://www.australiaplants.com/Eucalyptus_Info.htm

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

Pam Moore wrote:
I have an approx 3 year old eucalyptus which is about 12 feet tall on
one stem. I think I should cut it back to grow bushy. I've not grown
one before. It's by a 6 ft fence.
3 questions:
When should I cut it?
What height should I cut it back to? 4 feet? More or less?
If I leaveit will it just go on up or will it bush out?
TIA

Pam in Bristol

Depends what you want it for. The usual species grown in the UK have
different juvenile foliage from the adult foliage. The juvenile foliage is
said to be more attractive for flower arrangers, so the plant should be cut
regularly to promote the growth of new foliage if you want that. It doesn't
really matter when it is cut, as most Eucalyptus plants are rapid growers.

Remember not to let it get away, or you'll need a chainsaw before you know
it!

--
Jeff

On 12/2/09 10:19, in article , "Jeff Layman"
wrote:

Pam Moore wrote:
I have an approx 3 year old eucalyptus which is about 12 feet tall on
one stem. I think I should cut it back to grow bushy. I've not grown
one before. It's by a 6 ft fence.
3 questions:
When should I cut it?
What height should I cut it back to? 4 feet? More or less?
If I leaveit will it just go on up or will it bush out?
TIA

Pam in Bristol

Depends what you want it for. The usual species grown in the UK have
different juvenile foliage from the adult foliage. The juvenile foliage is
said to be more attractive for flower arrangers, so the plant should be cut
regularly to promote the growth of new foliage if you want that. It doesn't
really matter when it is cut, as most Eucalyptus plants are rapid growers.

Remember not to let it get away, or you'll need a chainsaw before you know
it!

I had Eucalyptus piniana growing as a hedge and someone pinched out the tops
immediately on planting. It took them two or three years to recover!
Later, I asked Ray from whom I'd bought them which is how we met (aaaaah)
what one should do and he advised leaving them for a year to get their feet
down before doing anything to them. Mind you this particular pinching out
was more like taking a foot off the top of young plants!
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
Perennials & shrubs online

On Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:19:40 -0000, "Jeff Layman"
wrote:

Pam Moore wrote:
I have an approx 3 year old eucalyptus which is about 12 feet tall on
one stem. I think I should cut it back to grow bushy. I've not grown
one before. It's by a 6 ft fence.
3 questions:
When should I cut it?
What height should I cut it back to? 4 feet? More or less?
If I leaveit will it just go on up or will it bush out?
TIA

Pam in Bristol

Depends what you want it for. The usual species grown in the UK have
different juvenile foliage from the adult foliage. The juvenile foliage is
said to be more attractive for flower arrangers, so the plant should be cut
regularly to promote the growth of new foliage if you want that. It doesn't
really matter when it is cut, as most Eucalyptus plants are rapid growers.

Remember not to let it get away, or you'll need a chainsaw before you know
it!

Thanks Layman and Sacha
I do not like the new growth leaves on eucalyptus, so don't need it
for that. I just love the elegance of a big tree but don't have the
room. I think I'll let it go for another year. Though tall, the trunk
is not much more than broom-handle thickness.

Pam in Bristol

Pam, Eucalyptus can be coppiced to get a bushy form. But if what you want is a tree-shaped tree of reasonable size, then what you need to do is get a less vigorous species as, at 4m in 3 years, it sounds like you have one of the vigorous ones. You could get rid of it now while it is practical to do so, and plant a less vigorous one so you can keep a tree-shaped Euc. The ones commonly sold are mostly the vigorous ones, you have to go to a specialist nursery, or buy seed, to get a less vigorous one, but there is something of a choice when you do go for the unusual ones. Quite why the British nursery trade hasn't yet gone in for the garden-friendly Eucs that do exist is one of those mysteries. Unfortunately both the really specialist Euc nurseries in Britain closed recently. E gregsoniana is the prime example of a lovely, less vigorous one, but now very hard to find. But I have 3 unusual Eucs in my small garden; one of them (E mannifera praecox) is growing at the same rate as a small birch (3m after 8 years), and the other two (E nova-anglica and E pulverulenta) are behaving like small shrubs.

http://www.angelfire.com/bc/eucalyptus/ is a very useful site on growing Eucalyptus in cool climates (Author is from US Pacific NW). It includes instructions on how to coppice, and a catalogue of the (remarkably many) hardy species.

Do not prune it now unless you want to risk losing it. Frost getting into the cut wound can kill it. The best time to prune is spring after the risk of serious frost.

g'day pam,

it might depend more on what species you have?

if it is one of the forest species (never recommended for street
planings or gardens) then pruning or what we call lopping could make
the tree more prone to dropping limbs as the new growths are not as
secure as the original growths. for the main there are better plants
to be pruned into a bushy shrub.


On Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:48:03 +0000, Pam Moore
wrote:

snipped
With peace and brightest of blessings,

len & bev

--
"Be Content With What You Have And
May You Find Serenity and Tranquillity In
A World That You May Not Understand."

http://www.lensgarden.com.au/