I have just planted a eucalyptus tree in garden,it is approx 8ft high ,i want to train it to grow out and not?
Question:and not higher than a step ladder, how and when do i cut the tree to train it out and keep a controlled hight.should i let it get established first then just keep cutting the top off. never grown one before i know they get very tall if not controlled..any help? thanks ( alpine snow eucalyptus )
Answers:
These trees are pretty hardy but go wild if you let them. I bought one for my Mum in memory of her Sister who died 3 years ago, her Sister was 4ft 11ins and lived in Australia (hence the choice of tree). Mum keeps the tree at 4ft 11ins by chopping it back twice a year, at the end of spring (so about now) and at the end of summer, say late September. It copes fine with this and grows well, it has bushed out a lot. You also need to chop back stray bits that grow from the lower trunk.
yes let it establish for a year and then keep trimming the top but it wont bush out that great for a while maybe 4-5 years
If you jus planted, you will need to let roots adjust and take hold for a couple years; I would not advise any pruning except for leggy limbs (if any) for the first couple years
I'm not sure which Eucalyptus that you have, as there are a great number of them.
The commonly grown one is Eucalyptus Gunnii which will quickly tower away, unless hard pruned. When pruned in this way, you keep the beauty of the blue rounded 'juvenile' type leaves, which are more attractive than the more mature leaves. Keep in check any one 'branch' or leader that wants to dominate too, which will encourage a bush, rather than tree effect.
This tree will readily resprout when cut back, so don't worry if it gets a bit out of hand, and is then brought back under control. I've mostly pruned mine hard in spring, after the harsh winters that we sometimes (used to) get. Otherwise, don't worry about taking leading stems off, to keep it back within the boundaries that you set.
As another poster states, it's wise to let it establish itself, before anything too drastic.
I'd check to see which variety of tree that you have, so that we can advise accordingly.
Here's a close-up photo:
http://fr.filopix.com/hp/html/tags/flore...
Good luck! Rob
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