Capable of growing up to 15m in height and around half of that in spread, E. dalrympleana (or the mountain gum tree, as it is more commonly known) is a fast-growing evergreen tree. The top of the rootball should be buried 0.4-0.8in (1-2cm) below soil level – which is contrary to the usual advice for woody plants – but this is so the lignotuber is protected in very cold weather. The lignotuber is a woody swelling at the part of the tree where the trunk or stem meets the root system, usually at soil level. It’s part of the tree’s defense system and where new shoots sprout from when the main trunk is damaged – for instance, by fire, excessive grazing by an animal, or a very hard winter. It's easy to neglect our gardens when the temperatures drop, but autumn is actually the best season to garden because of the soil's moist and warm texture, reveal t he Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Most varieties of eucalyptus require plenty of time to establish themselves before the colder temperatures set in, so planting in spring or summer is recommended. Its foliage begins life rounded and bluish, before developing a thinner and greyer form as it grows.

If you already have free-draining soil, anything in the snow gum family will thrive, while E. subcrenulata is a great choice for clay soils that are poorly drained. Swamp gums, like E. aggregata, tolerate boggy, wet conditions, but they grow very tall. Having said that, if your tree is planted in a pot, you might want to move it to a warmer area when the mercury drops. This method is particularly suitable for two-year-old trees of Eucalyptus gunnii, E. globulus, E. dalrympleana and E. pauciflora, as it shows off their attractive, rounded juvenile foliage. Year one

Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. It’s instantly recognisable by its grey-white bark which flakes away freely, as well as its drooping, narrow, grey-green leaves. If your part of the country is particularly prone to excessive rain or snow during winter, you might want to shelter it from the worst downpours. Cut the main stem of a two-year-old tree straight across at the desired height, cutting as low as 8cm (3in) from ground level if required. Trim the wound so that there are no rough edges

However, once settled in, dense planting around the base can help to restrict growth, if required,by limiting the amount of rainfall reaching the tree's roots. Mulching Young eucalyptus specimens need some formative pruning to grow into well-shaped mature trees. Some species can also be trained into multi-stemmed bushes, either by coppicing an established tree, or by training two-year-old trees as multi-stemmed shrubs from the beginning of their life. In the research, 54 per cent of UK adults who garden or grow plants outside dispose of garden waste in their green bin, while 30 per cent choose to compost it. Meanwhile, just eight per cent use them to make leaf mould, and 29 per cent add their fallen leaves to the compost bin. Given that some species of eucalyptus can grow up to 30m in height and spread, they’re most commonly cultivated outside. It should not be practised more regularly than every couple of years. FAQs Is Eucalyptus An Indoor Plant?

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It may take some time for the green shoots to return, but even a tree cut down to its stump should be capable of full regeneration – though such a strategy is not recommended! Can Eucalyptus Grow In Shade?