AusBonsai

hey guys i removed this eucalyptus at my work today but it had a very large tap root and very few feeder roots
what i was wondering was to remove all the foliage?
i have already removed 3/4 of the foliage already but wasn't sure if removing all of it is a good idea,
because it now stands around 1200mm high and needs to be reduced a lot
do eucalyptus back bud well? or need to be reduced slowly ?

Hi Matty

3/4 sounds good to me mate. leaving some foliage with tip shoots still on the branches you cut back to should keep the sap flowing better till it recovers. Then you can prune it again when healthy and after it has grown for a while to get strong. They certainly bud back well mate and you can cut them pretty much where you want, but try and identify where some nodes are for branches to grow from and cut above that.

Tony

Thanks tony!!
I soaked it in a tub of seasol overnight
An now I play the waiting game
I was told by one of the hort guys at my work that i should burn a heap of gum leaves an leave them ontop of the soil an give it a good water because it tricks the tree into thinking there was a fire an to "save its self"
Have you ever done anything like this?

Hi
Nice find, I would also leave the pot in a tray of water for at least 3 weeks.
I found this gives the plant the best rate of survival.
Fiona

Thanks Fiona!! I Deffinatly will do that!

It seems that a very free draining mix, plus very frequent watering, can get gums through the early stages of shock. If you have the choice, possibly do it in warmer weather. Please keep us posted, whether it survives or not.

Gavin