Eucalyptus trees are evergreen beauties known for their aromatic foliage and striking bark. While these trees can grow impressively tall, pruning techniques like coppicing and pollarding can help you enjoy them in small gardens or as multi-stemmed shrubs. Proper pruning not only maintains their size but also encourages the growth of attractive juvenile foliage. Here’s how to prune your eucalyptus for optimal health and aesthetics.
Why Prune Eucalyptus?
Pruning is essential to:
- Shape young eucalyptus trees into well-formed specimens.
- Control growth in small spaces.
- Encourage new shoots and vibrant juvenile leaves, particularly through coppicing.
- Maintain the tree’s health by removing dead or damaged growth.
Key Pruning Techniques
1. Coppicing
Coppicing involves cutting the tree back to its base, creating a multi-stemmed bush. This method is ideal for species like Eucalyptus gunnii, E. globulus, E. dalrympleana, and E. pauciflora.
- Timing: Late winter to early spring (February–March).
- Benefits: Encourages fresh growth with attractive juvenile leaves.
- How to Coppice:
- Cut stems down to 5–7.5 cm (2–3 inches) from the ground or to previous stubs.
- Repeat annually or every few years to maintain size and vigor.
2. Pollarding
Pollarding restricts a tree’s height by cutting its top growth back to stubs on the trunk, typically at 2 meters (6½ feet).
- Best For: Taller species like E. dalrympleana and E. pauciflora.
- Tip: Consider hiring a professional arborist, especially for mature or tall trees.
- How to Pollard: Prune back to stubs, ensuring cuts are clean and even.
Formative Pruning: Young Trees
Formative pruning is critical in a tree’s early years to establish shape and structure.
As a Standard Tree (Single Trunk)
- Maintain a clear central leader (main branch).
- Year 1:
- Remove side branches from the lower third of the trunk.
- Shorten side shoots on the middle third by half.
- Year 2:
- Remove fully shortened side shoots from the previous year.
- Repeat the process on the middle third.
- Year 3–5:
- Continue clearing side branches and maintaining a strong, balanced canopy.
As a Multi-Stemmed Bush
- Year 1: Cut the main stem of a two-year-old tree to the desired height (as low as 8 cm or 3 inches if needed).
- Year 2: Choose 3–4 strong, well-spaced shoots to form the bush structure; remove the rest.
- Year 3+: Remove low-hanging or overcrowded shoots while allowing new growth to flourish.
Common Issues
- Wind Damage: Young coppiced shoots may snap in strong winds. Trim shorter to encourage sturdier growth.
- Frost/Winter Damage: Eucalyptus is hardy but may suffer in colder regions. Protect young trees if necessary.
- Pests: Occasionally affected by oedema or eucalyptus gall wasp infestations.
Tips for Success
- Always prune in late winter or early spring before active growth begins.
- Use sharp, clean tools to ensure smooth cuts.
- Regularly inspect for dead, diseased, or damaged branches and remove them promptly.
Eucalyptus trees, with proper care, can thrive in gardens of all sizes, bringing year-round beauty and character. Whether you’re shaping a towering tree or maintaining a compact bush, pruning techniques like coppicing and pollarding offer flexibility and control.
For more gardening tips and advice, visit the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Become a member today and save 25% on your first year. Let’s grow together!