The eucalyptus comes from Australia, where the climate is mild even in winter. Overwintering is therefore necessary in this country. The following article informs you about the necessary measures and some exceptions.
How should you overwinter a eucalyptus?
You should protect a eucalyptus from frost in winter by moving it to cool, bright rooms with temperatures around 13°C, watering it moderately and not using fertilizer. Varieties such as Eucalyptus gunii can overwinter in the garden if roots are protected by a layer of mulch.
Is the eucalyptus winter-proof?
The eucalyptus has little demands on its location and also grows in cool places. However, the deciduous tree cannot tolerate frost. An exception is the variety Eucalyptus gunii, which is the only eucalyptus species that can withstand temperatures of up to -20°C.
Note: Sometimes eucalypts are sold in stores, which are supposedly “conditionally frost-hardy” plants. However, this information usually only refers to a few degrees below freezing point. It's better to be on the safe side and bring these trees into your house in winter.
Wintering indoors
So it is necessary to protect the eucalyptus from frost. The following conditions are optimal in closed rooms:
- A cool location with temperatures around 13°C
- No fertilizer application
- Watering only moderately.
- Still lots of light
- Cut the tops before bringing the eucalyptus indoors for the winter.
- Before you put the tree outside again, cut the branches back heavily.
Do not put your eucalyptus back outdoors until after the Ice Saints. Then you can be sure that night frosts will no longer harm it.
Wintering in the garden
In the garden you should only overwinter eucalypts that have sufficient growth height and are no longer suitable for keeping in containers. In this case, there is some frost resistance. However, you still need to protect the roots from the cold. To do this, apply a layer of mulch.