Eucalyptus Tree

[Doug99]

I've now had 2 arborists come out and offer advice.
The canopy is all generated from upper branches and there is no growth from mid height.
The upper branches are all hanging low, which means that there is little scope of reducing height without losing the canopy.
Pollarding to reduce height will result in a bare tree and previous cuts over recent years have not generated any new shoots because the tree is not a native plant and our summers are not sunny enough to encourage new growth.
If left alone, the tree will just continue to grow upwards with a high canopy.
Its a lovely looking tree but is now getting too big for the garden.

Another option is its total removal and replant something more manageable.

I'm in a quandary

 

[aveatry]

So you fit solar panels to save the environment and then cut down a tree cause its in the way, sums up the ECO madness.
As solar panels create electricity even with cloud the the tree would not make any difference I would of thought, also the sun does move so any shading is only temporary and only at certain times of year.

 

[Doug99]

So you fit solar panels to save the environment and then cut down a tree cause its in the way, sums up the ECO madness.
As solar panels create electricity even with cloud the the tree would not make any difference I would of thought, also the sun does move so any shading is only temporary and only at certain times of year.

There comes a point when a tree becomes unmanageable.
When we moved in 20yrs ago it was a young tree but like all things, they grow and grow.
Over the years I have had it trimmed to manage the canopy, but the main trunk continues on.
You will see from the pic that it is leaning.
Whilst the arborists stated the tree is healthy, they could not guarantee it not coming down in high winds.
I want to keep the tree, so have sought further advice on the option of pollarding.
Previous trimming of branches have not resulted in regrowth, but I'm wondering whether that's because other limbs continue to bear leaves and the tree conserves its energy towards the existing branches.
If the whole canopy was removed, would it force new growth on the bare branches?
I've asked RHS the question.

 

[aveatry]

There comes a point when a tree becomes unmanageable.
When we moved in 20yrs ago it was a young tree but like all things, they grow and grow.
Over the years I have had it trimmed to manage the canopy, but the main trunk continues on.
You will see from the pic that it is leaning.
Whilst the arborists stated the tree is healthy, they could not guarantee it not coming down in high winds.
I want to keep the tree, so have sought further advice on the option of pollarding.
Previous trimming of branches have not resulted in regrowth, but I'm wondering whether that's because other limbs continue to bear leaves and the tree conserves its energy towards the existing branches.
If the whole canopy was removed, would it force new growth on the bare branches?
I've asked RHS the question.

Like you say its not native, I have struggled in the past trying to keep non native plants alive

 

[lostinthelight]

As solar panels create electricity even with cloud the the tree would not make any difference I would of thought, also the sun does move so any shading is only temporary and only at certain times of year.

Depends on type of panels op has , if not optimized any shade falling on one panel prevents the others from generating

 

[StephenStephen]

Eucalyptus do get farmed in the UK, and they can be quite boisterous in their growth.

If you're considering removing it, then there's no loss in having it reduced to 6', and see what it does. If it then doesn't resprout, you've got enough leverage to help get the roots out.

 

[robinbanks]

Depends on type of panels op has , if not optimized any shade falling on one panel prevents the others from generating

prevents is a little dramatic. Shading one on a string does impact the output of the others but it doesn't shut them down entirely

 

[Doug99]

Several branches came down during the storm and there was worryingly a significant movement of the trunk.
All three arborists who came out to view the tree (before the storm) confirmed a polarded eucalyptus would struggle, so have decide to remove it completely.