Eucalyptus cladocalyx nana

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Trish Brown - 25 Sep 2008 09:16 GMT

My Mum has a E.cladocalyx nana (Dwarf Sugar Gum) in her yard. It's
thirty-two years old and a couple of its roots have grown up above
ground level by about six inches. They're very woody and quite close
(six to eight feet) to the trunk of the tree. As far as I can tell, only
two roots are involved, but each one surfaces in two places, so there
are four chunks that need to be cut away. This wouldn't be a problem,
only my Mum is nearly ninety and tottery on her feet. The roots are near
her back steps and really pose quite a danger to her as she's prone to
trip on uneven ground. The tree, of course, is a very beautiful one
which she'd rather not cut down.

My question is: can these roots be cut (chainsaw?) or would this harm
the tree significantly? Is removal of the tree the only solution?

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Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

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David Hare-Scott - 26 Sep 2008 01:44 GMT

> My Mum has a E.cladocalyx nana (Dwarf Sugar Gum) in her yard. It's
> thirty-two years old and a couple of its roots have grown up above ground
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> My question is: can these roots be cut (chainsaw?) or would this harm the
> tree significantly? Is removal of the tree the only solution?

I am no expert on trees but if it were mine I would be concerned about
killing the tree or making it so weak it would fall over later. How about
getting a qualified tree person (not just a young bloke with a chainsaw) to
look at it.

David

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mulligrub [turnoverworm@composted.ord] - 26 Sep 2008 11:28 GMT

Trish Brown <pmcbrown@internode.on.net>wrote:

>My Mum has a E.cladocalyx nana (Dwarf Sugar Gum) in her yard. It's
>thirty-two years old and a couple of its roots have grown up above
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>My question is: can these roots be cut (chainsaw?) or would this harm
>the tree significantly? Is removal of the tree the only solution?

Thank you for the question Trish, caused me to go look and I learnt
some stuff as a result.
The DSG looks like a very interesting timber for plantation.

This site has some info
http://www.smartimbers.com.au/timbers-specs.htm
and this link delivers a PDF on the tree.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/4cfeza

Reading all of that and putting what I know of Eucalypt
I would offer it would not be wise to interrupt the root system in any
way, unless you were prepared to lose the tree, eventually.
Two solutions as an alternative?
One I have had success with is using coarse river sand and "mounding"
the whole of the base around the tree starting at a depth of
300mm/12". Landscaping could taper this out to GL at maybe 5m/15ft
from the trunk? The fill must be rough/coarse sand - soil, gravel or
fine sand will complicate the feeding of the roots.
If Gran is a bit tottery on sand (as I reckon the Lady may well be)
use some large circular pavers as stepping stones. A few dollars and
some yakka and this project could be most self-satisfying, and gee the
old girl up no end!
The other option is to do what I have seen in resort style
developments on "virgin land".. boardwalks, just 300mm high. These are
effective over areas that are well established. Not so good over areas
that are still developing an ecosystem.
And an expensive mistake if you are not sure what you have (or is
developing) when it becomes clear Nature does not like the boardwalk!
Still, it is an option.

Hope some of that gives food for thought.

--

()-().----. '. ' ' . ' .. '. ^/
\"/` \___ ' ;_._______/ ' . . .. . ............................

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Trish Brown - 28 Sep 2008 02:16 GMT

Thanks to both of you for the advice. I, too, went to the sites you
suggested, mulligrub, and the pictures of the DSGs don't look a *bit*
like Mum's tree, even though it came with a nursery tag on it promising
that's what it was! Now I have to discover what kind of tree it is (I
*hate* not knowing!). The Sugar Gums in the picture are shown with
smooth, ribbony bark, but Mum's tree is definitely a bloodwood type with
rough, fibrous stringy bark. Hmmmm... I wonder... ???

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Trish Brown {|:-}

Newcastle, NSW, Australia

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mulligrub [turnoverworm@composted.ord] - 28 Sep 2008 08:15 GMT

Trish Brown <pmcbrown@internode.on.net>wrote:

>Thanks to both of you for the advice. I, too, went to the sites you
>suggested, mulligrub, and the pictures of the DSGs don't look a *bit*
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>smooth, ribbony bark, but Mum's tree is definitely a bloodwood type with
>rough, fibrous stringy bark. Hmmmm... I wonder... ???

Had meself wondering too an' all Trish, Lypees are not generally known
for surface rooting, 'cept for some low growing (sprawling) swampy
types.
Might I suggest you look at doing some expansion to feed the topic?
Like , use one of the many fileshare sites to post a photo?
http://multiply.com/ is just one.
Not suggesting at all I could identify the tree but someone here may.
That is the place to start :)
Apologies for the earlier rant, mebbe just "showing off". /grin

Thanks for your post.

--

()-().----. '. ' ' . ' .. '. ^/
\"/` \___ ' ;_._______/ ' . . .. . ............................

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Chookie - 29 Sep 2008 08:41 GMT

> My Mum has a E.cladocalyx nana (Dwarf Sugar Gum) in her yard. It's
> thirty-two years old and a couple of its roots have grown up above
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> My question is: can these roots be cut (chainsaw?) or would this harm
> the tree significantly? Is removal of the tree the only solution?

I would be concerned that damaging the roots might make them sprout!

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Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

http://chookiesbackyard.blogspot.com/

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Homeowner Forum / Lawn and Garden / September 2008

Eucalyptus cladocalyx nana