Cider Gum Care
Eucalyptus gunnii
A very fast-growing eucalyptus species grown for its round, silvery-blue juvenile leaves. To keep the blue foliage, it can be hard pruned (coppiced) every winter; otherwise it grows into a large tree.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- Pruning: This is the ideal time to protect the blue juvenile leaves and keep the plant in shrub form by pruning hard (coppicing) to 15-30 cm above the base; if it is to be grown as a tree, only formative pruning is done.
- General care: The plant is in dormancy.
- Frost risk: It is one of the most cold-hardy eucalyptus.
- Fertilizing: To encourage growth, a slow-release balanced NPK fertilizer can be applied at the end of the month (do not overfeed).
- Pruning: This is the final period for pruning.
- General care: It is getting ready to wake.
- Watering: If the rains are insufficient, start watering.
- Fertilizing: If it was not given in February, give it at the start of this month.
- General care: Especially if it was pruned hard, many new, vigorous blue shoots emerge from the base.
- Pests & diseases: Check the new shoots for aphids.
- Watering: For young or recently pruned plants, 30-40 L per week.
- Fertilizing: To support rapid growth, a balanced liquid fertilizer can be given once a month.
- General care: It grows very fast; shoots can reach 1-2 meters.
- Watering: Continue watering.
- Fertilizing: Continue fertilizing.
- General care: Growth continues.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Pruning: Do shaping and hedge pruning.
- General care: Heat stress may begin; regular watering is important.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- General care: It is tolerant even in the hottest months, but it should not experience water stress.
- Watering: In midsummer, deep watering every 15-20 days is enough. Established plants (over 2 years old) do not need watering in most years. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- General care: Flowering may occur on unpruned trees.
- Watering: In a long drought, water deeply once a month.
- Pruning: Do the last formative pruning of the season; do not let it put out new shoots before frost.
- General care: Preparation can be made for planting new seedlings.
- Watering: Stop if the rains begin.
- General care: This is the best month for planting.
- General care: Tree and shrub planting can continue; plants enter winter dormancy.
- Pruning: Preparations can be made for hard pruning (coppicing).
- General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
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