A Thorough Guide To Caring For A Eucalyptus Polyanthemos
The eucalyptus polyanthemos is commonly called the silver dollar gum tree, named for its silvery, rounded green leaves. These stunning trees can mature at an astonishing 50 feet tall and 50 feet wide or they can be pruned as a smaller shrub and even grown in a pot. They are drought tolerant, fast growing and once planted, they are fairly low maintenance.
Planting
When planting a eucalyptus polyanthemos, choose a location that offers partial or full sun. they prefer a loam to sandy type of soil that is well-drained and it must be a spot that will accommodate large amounts of root growth. Also, keep in mind that this tree is going to completely shade the area so anything planted underneath it that requires sun will not survive.
- Dig a hole that is about three times the diameter of the root ball and a little deeper. If you are planting more than 1 one tree, they should be done so approximately 20 feet apart.
- Before you plant the tree, water it and work the root ball a bit to loosen the roots and soil.
- Place the root ball directly in the center of the whole.
- Back-fill the soil around the root ball.
- Apply three to four inches of mulch to the root base.
- Create a water basin around the tree by positioning rocks in a full circle around it. This step is extremely important if the tree is on a slope.
Water And Fertilizer
When the eucalyptus polyanthemos is young, it needs moist soil while it is establishing its roots. Once the tree starts to grow, you can cut back on watering and let the soil dry before you water it again. Once your tree is mature, it only needs to be offered water during a drought or when there are harsh, drying winds.
These trees really do not need to be fertilized and they will actually decline if you feed them a heavy phosphorus fertilizer. If your tree is potted and being kept as a shrub, you can offer a slow-release fertilizer that is very low in phosphorus.
Pruning And Maintenance
To control the height of the eucalyptus polyanthemos, summer pruning is necessary. This tree does not at all mind being trimmed so you can control and shape it as much as you would like. It is very common to cut the branches and use them indoors for closets, drawers or in vases as the tree is know for its fresh scent. The oils from the bark and branches repel ticks and fleas so they are ideal to place near animal bedding.
These trees are known for their ability to really litter your yard when they shed leaves, bark and branches. It is extremely important to rake this debris up because bark pieces are even more flammable than the tree. Also, seeds will fall and can be used to grow additional trees. If you do not rake these up, you could end up with trees where you do not want them.
Diseases
- Rhizoctonia – This fungus survives in well-drained soils when other fungi can't. It will enter the eucalyptus polyanthemos tree through the roots and destroy the foliage. If you suspect that you tree has rhizoctonia, you should discontinue watering it and throw away the soil that houses it. The tree may be able to be saved by re-potting in fresh soil and reducing watering.
- Silver Dollar Blight – This makes its presence known through discolored and wilted leaves. Although, some blight forms will cause corky-like knots to rise on the branches or stems. You can avoid this disease by not over-watering and keeping the tree healthy. If your tree develops blight, you need to remove infected portions and then treat with a fungicide. Avoid watering for at least a week or so to kill the infection. The tree can withstand the lack of water, the blight cannot.