When to chop

[Gerard]

I have had this gum for a while now, 2 metres tall and no foliage below 1.5metres. I think the trunk is quite special and knew that the big chop must come. 6 weeks ago I placed the tree in a tray of water which has caused a sudden strong flush of growth........so I bit the bullet and made the chop. It looks like it as buds popping in some nice spots.

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There has been some discussion on species, spotted gum or lemon scented gum. There is definitely a strong scent but the two species are closely related, I am leaning to spotted.

[Jarad]

I love the bark on these gum trees!

And that dead wood is stereotypical of our natives.

Have you got some other photos of the tree from different angles?

[Gerard]

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[Rory]

Very interesting piece of material Gerard. Very Halloweenish feel to it too

It'll be interesting to see where you take this one.

[hugh grant]

Thus really cool material Gerard, some really amazing character going on in this tree. love the deadwood!

[Small Trees]

One off the best gums I have seen. I have a few and chopped them all and they back bud generally after 4 weeks. Is that one a Snow Gum?

[Elmar]

Wow, almost looks like a serpent joining a tree... Awesome looking Gum!

Would you need to prep the dead wood? To stop rot, and what-not?!?


Cheers
Elmar

[Gerard]

Dead wood is 10 years or older, I broke some away yesterday because I felt there was too much. It was quite hard and I am inclined to leave it to develop naturally. Eucalypts will tend to lose branches over time and require re design frequently as a result. Today's buds may well be future deadwood, no need to over do it.

[fossil finder]

Nice tree Gerard. I remember being frustrated when the scientific classification regarding spotteds' and lemon scenteds' changed. To help ID Lemon-scented are a Queensland species while the spotted gum also occurs in NSW. In my experience Lemon-scented Gums have brighter green hairier new leaves/growth and, importantly Lemon-scented Gums smell like lemons while spotted gum have a more eucalypt scent. Common Regional ecosystems containing both so occur so they would have probably have natural hybrids?

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[Gerard]

Nice tree Gerard. I remember being frustrated when the scientific classification regarding spotteds' and lemon scenteds' changed. To help ID Lemon-scented are a Queensland species while the spotted gum also occurs in NSW. In my experience Lemon-scented Gums have brighter green hairier new leaves/growth and, importantly Lemon-scented Gums smell like lemons while spotted gum have a more eucalypt scent. Common Regional ecosystems containing both so occur so they would have probably have natural hybrids?

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Thanks for that, I suspect that I will need the two species side by side to do the sniff test and form a conclusion but all that is hypothetical until foliage returns.

[Gerard]

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It is pleasing when you realize that there are too many buds and it is time to remove a few

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[Elmar]

Liking where your going with this one!


Cheers
Elmar

[Gerard]

I removed a lot of shoots because there were multiple shoots emerging from every point. The bark has begun to peel but has been left hanging to encourage the mottled appearance.
Underneath the bark there are many more emerging buds. Perhaps luck or perhaps intuition but the timing of the trunk chop seems to have been perfect!