Eucalyptus Tree Care

Eucalyptus tree belongs to the family Myrtaceae, and is listed under the diverse genus of flowering trees. Native to Australia, they now grow in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. There are over 700 species of eucalyptus, most of which are found only in Australia. This tree is famous for the eucalyptus oil extracted from its leaves and bark.

Eucalyptus Tree Information
Eucalyptus can be categorized as a low shrub or a very tall tree. Primarily, this tree has been divided into three main classifications; forest trees, which are single stemmed all the way up to the crown, which is minor in proportion of the whole tree's height, Woodland trees, which are also single stemmed, but they branch out a few feet above ground level, and Mallees species, which are mostly less than 10 meters in height and multi-stemmed, right from ground level, hence considered a shrub.

Eucalyptus is one of the many types of evergreen trees and is an aromatic tree that varies in height; 10 to over 60 meters, depending upon the cultivator. The tallest measured specimen, the Australian Mountain Ash is 99.6 meters tall! Bark of the eucalyptus consists of long fibers that can be pulled off easily in long pieces. Some species exude medicinal sap. Except for a few odd types that lose their leaves at the end of the dry season, most eucalyptus are evergreen. The foliage is long, oval-shaped, with colors that range from bright to olive green. The leaves are refreshingly aromatic just like its attractive, peeling bark. The tree bears flowers in late spring to early summer in colors of cream, yellow, white, pink or red. The flowers are attractive fluffy stamens enclosed in a cap known as an operculum.

Caring for Eucalyptus Trees
As most of the trees are so tall, one is often left wondering how to care for eucalyptus trees. But the best part about growing this tree is, that they are non-fussy growers, and require care primarily in they early years, for once well established, all that you would need to do is take in the aroma they will spread around your yard!

To grow a eucalyptus successfully, plant a cultivator that is adaptable to the soil and climatic conditions of your region. Decide upon the size of your tree, for once you plant them in one location, transplanting will kill them, just as less space would. They have a shallow root system, so one should plant them in an area protected from high winds. To plant a eucalyptus, dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball size. Place the plant in the center and back fill with soil. Dig out around the tree to secure water in it, and pour water gently. Once the water gets absorbed, mulch around the tree with any type of mulch that you think is suitable. Fertilize first time after a month of planting it, and then once every three years.

Pruning eucalyptus is essential to control leaf litter, though, this becomes difficult when the tree grows very tall. Prune eucalyptus only in the summers, because they bleed sap when cut, which then makes them very susceptible to fungus infections in winters and humid climates, so always apply a wound dressing after cutting to prevent infection. It is preferable to prune only dead, damaged or diseased branches. If you desire to give your tree some particular shape, train them within the first few years of their planting itself.

Eucalyptus Tree Diseases
Although very hardy, and insecticidal in nature, the eucalyptus is highly susceptible to longhorn borer, eucalyptus gall wasp, various leaf eating beetles and the lerp psyllid. Most pests can be easily controlled by regular pruning and insecticidal applications. But it is the lerp psyllid which is capable of killing the tree. Lerp psyllids are plant-juice sucking homopterans, that infect the eucalyptus leaves. Infected leaves have small white, hemispherical cap composed of solidified honeydew and wax stuck on them. The wax results in dark sooty mold fungus growth, that spreads to the bark as well. Specific insecticides are available to deal with this problem, and must be used at the earliest. A simple way to curb any infection from spreading is to stop the use of fertilizer till the tree is free of infection.

This tree is full of a natural valuable medicinal oil, yet most people are not too fond of this tree. Its roots are shallow, which make the tall tree vulnerable to falling during high winds, the oil is flammable and can aggravate a wildfire, and lastly the trees allelopathic chemicals secretion into the soil by its roots, fallen bark, leaves and flowers affect the surrounding soil. Roots of this tree inhibit root growth of other plants by damaging their nutrient source.

However, the fact remains, a good gardener knows how to work around the problems of trees, and concentrate on its beauty. Good eucalyptus tree care will help one maintain this tree in good health, and when all the trees go bare in winter, this one will uplift your mood with its evergreen aromatic leaves.