how to collect a gum!!

[matty-j]

hey everyone

so i have been eyeing off this eucalypt, i have permission to collect it

i have tried collecting eucalypt's in the past and that notoriously looooonnnggg tap root kills me and the trees every time
i'm not sure if this has been covered in the past i did a quick search but i couldn't find anything specific
i thought about digging around the trunk placing a colander or a pot and doing a ground layer, air layer style
i have constant access to the tree so moisture isnt a problem is this the best method?
are there others?
suggestions?

IMG_2597.jpg

cheers
matt

[kcpoole]

I wodu be trying to take it out completely and utilise that lower trunk.

Collect in Spring / late spring if youo can wait that long, and in the meantime, dig ( or run a spade under it to sever the tap root. Leave it where it is until spring.

I would try to take as much root as possible myself, but other have treated them rough with good results.
Flybri has collected quite a few
viewtopic.php?f=104&t=13031&p=136744#p136744
viewtopic.php?f=104&t=3165&p=33723&hilit=+brick#p33723

Ken

[matty-j]

thanks ken

so i'm going to dig a trench down one side of the tree and then go under a cut the taproot,ill fill trench with something corse like sand and gravel and hopefully when it comes to removing it spring ill have some nice new roots in the corse mix
ill post my progress

cheers
matt

[hugh grant]

awesome stock there mate!!!
ill be watching this one intently

Hugh

[Bretts]

The advice from the pioneers, Koreshoff's I believe was that undercutting was not a great option for the natives and maybe gums in particular. Although my experience is limited I tend to agree. I think it is best to use all that energy in the full transplant.
On the other hand I like your idea of the ground layer, dig down as much as possible to do the layer and I reckon that will be your safest bet. I would chop the top of the tree now then come late spring it will be going strong for the layer and be perfect for removing in the months ahead when the layer is advanced enough.
Different species of gum are very different in their ability to transplant. With the large tap roots you would expect on this I reckon a ground layer is your best shot.

[matty-j]

thanks hugh

thanks for the thoughts bretts i was thinking of cutting it back hard but was unsure of how hard i could go, is removing all the foliage not a good idea with a eucalyptus