Pollarding a Eucalyptus tree....

Gunni is the hardiest, or so I've heard. I've seen those chopped about and come back fighting. Mine are the broad leaved kind. Sorry, forget the name but they don't like being hacked!

 

Just typical isn't it! neglect them and they thrive! I may buy another and ignore it!

 

I wouldn't say I dislike gunnii, but I think its overdone, there are other hardy ones that need consideration if you are planting for a full sized tree.

I grew one years ago from a packet of mixed seed, the adult leaves shined in the sun like mirrors almost, and it had red new stems.
Its the one I killed by cutting back too hard.
Never quite nailed down the species, but it was very hardy.

 

Sounds brilliant. If you ever find out which one it was, be sure to let us know

 

Said Tree...



I love the bark...

 

It is a thing of beauty Loli.

 

They pollarded a Euc on Beechgrove (latest episode). The tree was damaged by the cold winter (a few years back), cut to the ground, re-sprouted, and now they are stooling/pollarding 50% of the branches to keep the growth but encourage new shoots - and then pollard the other 50% in a year or two's time I expect.

I LOVED the leaf on that, but they didn't way what it was, only "Sweet Gum" which I don't think is a specific variety?



Eucalyptus pruning starts at 14:47

 

First thought, Isn't sweet gum, Liquidambar?
Snow gum is niphophila

 

Yes, indeed it is! although they were definitely talking about a Eucalyptus.

Hang on, I'll Google it (which I should have done in the first place!)

OK ... Mea Culpa! The Fact Sheet for the program says "Snow Gum"

"Carole was in the Seaside Garden looking at pruning the vigorous Eucalyptus or Snow Gum there. This is one of the hardiest of Eucalyptus, but after the hard winters of 2011 and 2012 it suffered quite badly and started to split. It had to be pretty well felled because of the damage but since then it sprouted from the trunks and had put on a lot of growth in the last 2 years. Carole decided that she wanted to keep the Eucalyptus as a shrub and not to allow it to become too unwieldy. There were 2 options:-

• It could be coppiced or cut back to the base to 2/3 buds high like a Dogwood
• It could be pruned and thinned so that every other branch is removed this year. Then next year the remaining branches can be cut back."

http://www.thebeechgrovegarden.com/images/factsheets/Factsheet_3_2.pdf

Google says that Snow Gum is Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila - which is the one I grew from seed a couple of years ago, and have planted in the garden. Yippee!

RHS says: "a small evergreen tree with bark flaking attractively into cream, grey and green patches. Young shoots red with white bloom. Leaves elliptic, becoming narrower on mature trees, grey-green. Flowers small, white" unfortunately it also says "Acid/Neutral" soil ("Grow in slightly acidic soil with full sun and shelter when young"), which I don't have ... but the thing grew a good couple of feet last year, am I OK?

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=756

 

They soon grow back don't they....

 

They do indeed!

When I moved into my previous home, there was a pot with a dead looking thing in it Within weeks it was sprouting and I guessed it was a Euc. I wasn't mistaken!

Sadly, I had to leave it behind, but it was a glorious article! And grew magnificently

I did say to Mr "M" that I would like to bring it with us, but, he felt that we simply didn't have the room to bring all that I wished to (or, indeed, all that I brought!)

Suffice to say: he was mistaken (and, consequently, concurs )