Gum tree
Eucalyptus
An ornamental plant, planted March to August.
In September: mulch the gum tree.
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Gum tree, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown gum tree. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Cut the gum tree hard back for new stems. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none |
| Prune the gum tree. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Mulch the gum tree. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown gum tree March to August, 3m apart. Strong sources: RHS and Roots Plants.
Cut the gum tree hard back for new stems
Gardeners call this coppicing and stooling for stem display.
Cut all the growth back hard, to a stubby low framework or to ground level.
Usually February to April. Moderate source: RHS.
Prune the gum tree
Cut the trunk or branches back to 5 to 7.5cm above the ground, or to last year’s stubs.
Usually February to March. Strong source: RHS.
Mulch the gum tree
Lay a thick layer of chipped bark over the root area, on to damp soil.
Usually March, and September to November. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Gum tree” comes from.