Eucalyptus Gunnii

[nosferato]

Hey, i was wondering if my Eucalyptus Gunnii is ok as you can see it's drooping and has started to have red leafs.
the tree is in the ground fed and watered like all my other stuff... any ideas thanks in advance

[vicky]

It looks fine, the droopy bits are the sappy new growth - it probably doesn't need feeding as this can encourage greater but weaker new shoots. The red leaves are probably the older leaves turning red before they drop off - like decideuous trees in autumn - but evergreens tend to drop leaves this time of year as the new growth comes in.
Make sure you don't let it get too big, it's quite close to the house and they are fast growers. You can coppice them down to the ground pretty successfully every few years!

[nosferato]

thank you for your fast reply.
i will take your advice, again thank you

[rana]

Is'nt it a bit close to the building. Once they get going Euclyptus grow very large very quickly - lovely tree though.

[bluemoon]

Is'nt it a bit close to the building. Once they get going Euclyptus grow very large very quickly - lovely tree though.

Chance would be a fine thing! Eucalyptus is one of the things I've never had any success with.

[Flummery]

I cut mine down - brutally - to about 2 ft each year. The new leaves are perforated by the stems and look like old pennies (but greeny-grey of course!) These are the leaves that flower arrangers die for. The older leaves, as you've found, are a bit droopy and boring. Give it the chop! And do be brutal - it can get to 80ft while you back's turned.

[1jim]

I cut mine down - brutally - to about 2 ft each year.

to cut this back do you just cut it staight across where you want it or do you cut back a special way? is there a best time of year to cut it back and would it be ok to cut some of the leaves/stems to use with cut flowers all through the year or just at cut back time? sorry I know these are all silly questions but the wife saw one of these in the garden centre at the weekend and really wanted one but I was reluctant as I thought we might stuggle keeping it under control
thanks
Jim

[rana]

Many years ago I had a Eucalyptus gunnii in the garden. Each autumn it was cut back almost to the ground and as Flummery says the new leaves produced each spring were the blue green round ones. I used to use the leaves in tea (lovely). We eventually dug the thing out as the ground level stump got too big.

A neighbour let one continue growing but after a few years of fast growth it took out his front garden wall.

[Flummery]

Just saw across. I say 'just' - it required an electric saw last year!

[vicky]

My dad has one in his garden over 20 years old and still less than 6ft! He gives it a good hard prune every year.

[IgglePiggle]

They are use to the bush fires, that's why you can cut them hard back and they regrow! Clever I think