My gum tree is dead...

[Keels]

hopefully that got your attention

IMG_20200224_194624_copy_960x1280.jpg

I was just about to throw this gum tree into the bin tonight when I noticed it's actually still alive

I don't understand why it's only shooting from the base but hopefully something happens a bit higher.

Not too sure on the species but it's local to the Canberra region. I saved it from getting chuck out, not sure if that's what I'd call this.

Stay tuned for more updates

[Watto]

Do you know what sort it is Keels?

[shibui]

It is shooting from the base because that's what many Eucs do. In times of stress many can withdraw from twigs and branches to survive. When conditions improve they shoot new branches from the trunk.
If conditions are really tough they can let the entire trunk die off but conserve the little resources left in the lignotuber at the base of the trunk. When conditions improve they shoot from the live lignotuber like yours is doing now. That's why mallee species so often have multi trunks from a swollen base but many other species have the same ability. You can select just one of the new shoots and grow a new trunk or you might like to try for a more mallee type tree with multiple thin trunks from the base with or without the dead trunk in the centre.

At my place no tree is dead until it has had no leaves for 2 full seasons. Many, like this one, just take a while to get growing after a problem.

[Keels]

Do you know what sort it is Keels?

I believe it's Eucalyptus melliodora but that's just a guess. When I first collected this tree the leaves were all round but I'd say the branches then wouldn't have been more then 12 months old.

That's why mallee species so often have multi trunks from a swollen base but many other species have the same ability. You can select just one of the new shoots and grow a new trunk or you might like to try for a more mallee type tree with multiple thin trunks from the base with or without the dead trunk in the centre.

At my place no tree is dead until it has had no leaves for 2 full seasons. Many, like this one, just take a while to get growing after a problem.

Thanks for the information shibui. I'm learning to hang on that light longer with my trees. Gonna have to research mallee species and see how they shoot multiple trunks for some ideas

[LLK]

Could part of the tree's stress have been caused by too small a pot? Not enough soil for the rootball to increase? In your place I'd slip-pot it into a bigger one p.d.q.

Lisa

[Rory]

I'd tread carefully and just let it do its thing for the moment.

Sometimes when you see clumps of micro-growth sprouting at the base after the tree has died back or died, its stored energy that unfortunately dies off and the whole thing eventually dies. I hope not, but I've seen this many time with my Eucs that were in a bad way.

But the fact that it appears to have sent shoots deeper out and up away from the trunk is hopeful.
Hopefully it has roots still alive to support the burst of energy.

[Keels]

I'd tread carefully and just let it do its thing for the moment.

Sometimes when you see clumps of micro-growth sprouting at the base after the tree has died back or died, its stored energy that unfortunately dies off and the whole thing eventually dies. I hope not, but I've seen this many time with my Eucs that were in a bad way.

But the fact that it appears to have sent shoots deeper out and up away from the trunk is hopeful.
Hopefully it has roots still alive to support the burst of energy.

Fingers crossed it makes a full recovery. I am hopeful

[Keels]

Gum tree is processing nicely. I haven't had any issues with the trees recovery since i last posted. Just a quick update to show how the tree has progressed. I think i'm leaning towards a multi trunk tree with a big burnt out center

[Sno]

Ah , the start again method . I’ve got a few of those on the go to . I like the idea of a burnt out centre.
Going on the juvenile growth it’s not melliodora ,

[TimS]

Ah , the start again method .

I pictured Maxwell Smart saying that "Ah....the old 'start again method' i knew that 99!"

[Sno]

[quote=Sno post_id=279294 time=<a href="tel:1591602530">1591602530</a> user_id=2411]
Ah , the start again method .

I pictured Maxwell Smart saying that "Ah....the old 'start again method' i knew that 99!"
[/quote]S[quote=TimS
[/quote]


Sorry about that chief .

[Sno]

Here’s one of my start again trees . Its been restarted a few times .

EF076374-51FD-4E89-86FD-EC04ACE6C377.jpeg

90A44E6F-A88C-4B82-826E-7B0BF6779C5A.jpeg

[Keels]

Here’s one of my start again trees . Its been restarted a few times .
EF076374-51FD-4E89-86FD-EC04ACE6C377.jpeg
90A44E6F-A88C-4B82-826E-7B0BF6779C5A.jpeg

I guess thats a method of styling when to comes to gum trees. You got me thinking what kind of gum this tree is btw.... I might head out to the spot i found it to photograph the older gums in that location. See if i can identify what type it is.

TimS and your references to maxwell smart are hilarious i think i should call this tree max

[Keels]

After reading through Rorys updates i thought i should update a couple of my posts. Here a bit of an update on the gum tree. Its been kicking along pretty well recently. It was drying out really fast a couple of months back and i took the opportunity to repot the tree into a smaller container. I recommend against repotting gums in October but i feel it has paid off this time. Next time i will repot in December as it will be more consistently hotter then in October. Should recover faster and i wont loose so many tips etc.

Dead-gum.jpg

The base is swelling alot. I wonder how far i could get it to swell so that it looks attractive.

dg-close up.jpg

DG-Base.jpg

dg-base-2.jpg

Branch thickness.

dg-thickness.jpg

I think the next move will be to chop those multiple trunks. I wont do this til Dec 2022 now. I will cut it back hard to add some movement in those multiple trunks as some are pretty straight.

anyway happy to hear peoples thoughts.

[Matt S]

Hi Keels. I think a trunk chop is the way to go, Mallee clumps tend to have gentle sweeping curves away from the centre. I’m working on a mallee clump too, I think there should be more of them!
Matt.