When is the best time to plant Eucalyptus trees?
The answer really depends on where you live. What needs to be avoided is freezing the roots of the young Eucalyptus tree before it's established. The following guidelines look at the pros and cons of when to plant. If you delay planting or want to store your plants until the weather improves, please keep the plants in a sunny, frost free area. It's important to protect them from the frost because the roots are more susceptible being out of the ground.
Late Spring
The advantage to planting in late spring - early summer is that the Eucalyptus tree has all summer to establish whilst it's growth is most active. We would recommend this planting time if the winters in your area are particularly harsh as it allows the roots to fully establish well before the cold weather / freezing conditions set in. Plant only after the danger of frosts has passed.
Summer
As our Eucalyptus trees are cell or container grown they can be planted during the summer. However, it is vital that they are kept watered, expecially during very dry periods as the roots will not have established sufficiently. Equally don't overwater and drown the tree as this will kill it just as effectively as not watering enough.
We successfully plant cell grown Eucalyptus trees during the summer but we check them regularly. Container grown Eucalyptus trees are more resiliant to the summer's dry periods as they have a larger root system, but it's just as important to keep these well watered. It's important to make sure the compost is kept moist by frequent thorough watering, not intermittant sprinkles.
Autumn
This is a good time to plant as the Eucalyptus tree will in most places get a good watering whilst simultaneously, the tree won't be so demanding for water. Being evergreen, the Eucalyptus tree will continue to grow through the winter and should be well established for the next year. This time of year is probably the best time if you want to plant and 'forget'.
In milder climes it's OK to plant cell grown Eucalyptus trees at this time of the year. In colder areas we would recommend container size Eucalyptus trees but in very cold areas, of if in doubt, we would recommend planting in the spring. What needs to be avoided is the roots freezing before the tree is established.
To protect the Eucalyptus roots from freezing conditions we suggest using a thick mulch mat, like old carpet for example, topped with a very generous thickness of mulch. This needs to be at least 600mm radius, possibly more in very cold areas.
Indoor planting
Plant at any time of the year but be careful if it's in a conservatory which may freeze in the winter or 'cook' in the summer. Don't forget Eucalyptus trees need plenty of light!
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How to plant Eucalyptus Trees
If you have a predefined and precise planting plan, it's possible to apply a complete herbicide, such as Roundup, to the areas where the Eucalyptus trees are going to be planted before your trees arrive. Like most saplings Eucalyptus trees establish and grow faster without any competition, including grass, so it's best to kill off any vegetation within a 0.5m radius. If you can't apply a herbicide in advance then it's best to remove as much of the vegetation as possible, using a spade, hoe, mower or strimmer as applicable.
The hole for the Eucalyptus tree should be just large enough for the pot and no bigger, with the top of the pot's compost slightly below (20mm) ground level. Before finally planting the Eucalyptus tree, soak the tree roots in a bucket of water for 3-4minutes. In the case of cell grown trees, puncture the black stretch film top and bottom before soaking. Try to only remove the black stretch film just prior to planting, to avoid any unnecessary damage to the roots and to keep the growing media intact.
If you have AirPot grown trees leave the AirPot on at this stage. Water the planting hole to ensure the soil is wet and then sprinkle some bonemeal into it to help the roots develop. When the pot has been soaked for long enough, transfer it straight away into the ground. Remove the AirPot by unscrewing the green fixings on the side. Remove the AirPot wall and the slotted base before pllanting. Use excavated soil mixed with a little compost to fill the gaps down the sides making sure it's tamped down.
If you're using a mulch mat, place it round the Eucalyptus tree and peg it in place. The saplings shouldn't need any support except on very windy sites. However in the majority of cases the Eucalyptus tree will need protection from animals wanting your tree for dinner. It is recommended that some form of netting is used to protect the tree such as in the following picture.
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 This is made from 600mm high plastic netting 600mm long, slipped inside a polythene tube and secured to two 900mm long canes using cable ties. This serves six purposes:
a) Its protects the tree from being nibbled
b) It protects it from the wind
c) As the tree grows it provides support
d) The polythene has a greenhouse effect raising the temperature slightly, yet the open top prevents excessive heat build up.
e) The polythene has another use when watering, in that it prevents the water from flowing away from the tree.
f) It protects the tree from overspray when weed killing around the outside.
When the shelter or support is in place spread some mulch over the mulching mat as this helps to keep the moisture in the ground and keeps the mulch mat firmly on the ground. If you don't, you'll find sun light gets under the mat allowing the grass to grow, which lifts that mat allowing more light in and so on and so on. If you don't put mulch on top it's best to regularly weed kill around the edge of the mulch mat to prevent it from lifting.
Finally, just for good measure, water the tree and surrounding soil again. |
