With a growth of up to 100 meters in height, the eucalyptus is a landmark of the Australian landscape. Under the climatic conditions of Europe, it does not grow quite as tall, but still reaches around 35 meters. It's hard to believe that you can also cultivate the deciduous tree in your own garden, or even as a container plant. However, this can only be achieved with regular pruning. How and when to prune the Australian giant can be found on this page.
When and how should you cut a eucalyptus?
When cutting a eucalyptus, spring is the ideal time. Shorten the branches significantly to suit your space, as eucalyptus tolerates pruning and pruning promotes growth. Treat wounds with wound closure agent and do not cut into the roots.
Tips for pruning
- The right time for pruning is spring.
- The eucalyptus is very easy to cut.
- Feel free to shorten the branches significantly. Adjust the remaining size to your space capacity.
- Pruning encourages new shoots.
- It is even possible for growth to accelerate after pruning.
- Treat remaining wounds with a wound closure agent (€5.00 on Amazon).
- Do not cut into the roots.
The Eucalyptus gunii
The eucalyptus is actually very easy to care for. If only it weren't for the constant pruning, which shouldn't be neglected in both garden and container cultivation. However, the Eucalyptus gunii variety is the perfect tree for lazy gardeners. In contrast to the common eucalyptus, which grows an impressive 9-130 cm per year as a houseplant, this species only grows by 40 cm per year. Pruning is therefore not necessary as often.
What to do with the cut leaves?
So that the eucalyptus retains its beautiful appearance, you should not only remove annoying branches, but also pluck off brown leaves. These do not necessarily have to go into the compost. Use old, but not completely dried out leaves to brew them as tea. When poured with hot water, they produce a wonderfully aromatic drink that is very helpful against cold symptoms.
