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Eucalyptus gunnii pruning and staking?

Posted by wobur Cottswalds 8 ? (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 4, 06 at 9:55

While I was visiting my sister from the U.S. in Oct., we picked out an E. gunnii to have planted in her lawn. It is 12' tall and quite willowy. The nursery person staked it at 4' with a wooden cross bar and it isn't able to move up to that height. Should it be restaked to allow for some movement and improved chance of strengthening the trunk? We are also concerned about whether or not it should be pruned some now to minimize transplant stress. She is hoping to keep it at about 15' with mostly juvenile foliage. Thanks so much for any help.


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RE: Eucalyptus gunnii pruning and staking?

Unless your sister lives in a very windy area then the main thing will be to see that the current staking doesn't get in the way of new stem growth. Once the tree is well-rooted then it will probably be wind resistant. (Exception - high wind after sustained torrential rain has made the soil fluid.)

If she's growing the tree for juvenile foliage then she may need to take off the top couple of metres to initiate the growth of new stems from further down. As an ongoing management process the tips probably need to be taken back to stop any of them 'deciding' to become the new leader.

I'm not sure about E gunnii, but in other eucs that have produced new stems from the lignotuber - the stems take a few years to become firmly attached. They seem to be willing to part company with the trunk at the merest hint of a bump.

Management is similar to what you would use if you were growing a Cornus or Salix for coloured winter stems.


 
 

 

 


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