Weather Watch

[Black Orchid]

Most Eucalyptus trees have a shallow root ball. This has been adapted to help them survive in a harsh environment by accessing the limited rainfall/water close to the surface. 90% of their roots grow in the top 12"-16" of soil.

In their natural environ they will develop strong tap roots which will help to anchor them but need a minimum of 6 feet to do this. Soil structure and depth in suburban plantings rarely supply enough scope for this to happen and most will have a weakened root structure and be susceptible to strong winds.

You just have to look at the many fallen Eucalyptus trees after a storm to see how shallow their roots system is.

[boxy]

Eucalyptus should not be used as street trees. They have a shallow root system and need the protection of lots of other Eucalyptus trees around them to keep them semi sheltered. Council planners are idiots.

There are at lease 2 huge trees down around me and people must be without power as the power trucks have been trying to fix wires. In this day and age why do we not have underground power?

Eucalypts have shallow roots? .... I was always under the impression Eucalypts have very deep roots are are required to prevent ground salinity from rising water tables/aquifers bringing the salt to the surface by drinking it.

I wouldn't be surprised if a suburban environment is what causes the problem. Although they do occasionally pull out of the ground, out in the paddock, they are fairly deep rooted. However, if you provide water regularly, from the surface, they are likely to put most of their effort into shallow roots, instead of sending deep roots to the sub-surface water. Artificial planting may not help either. It's easy to cause a root ball, especially in clay, if you're not careful.

[mantra]

I wouldn't be surprised if a suburban environment is what causes the problem. Although they do occasionally pull out of the ground, out in the paddock, they are fairly deep rooted. However, if you provide water regularly, from the surface, they are likely to put most of their effort into shallow roots, instead of sending deep roots to the sub-surface water. Artificial planting may not help either. It's easy to cause a root ball, especially in clay, if you're not careful.

They're usually surrounded by concrete, sewerage and water pipes etc. which of course restricts the roots. When underground pipes or lines are installed essential tap roots would be cut regularly. As a rule in a natural environment they will usually only drop limbs. White gums seem to fall more frequently than other trees.

I HATE gum trees!

I love them. I don't worry about them falling - only dropping one of their huge branches. I rarely walk under one.

[Black Orchid]

A Council Eucalypt planting dropped a large branch on my car a few months ago. The car is insured but I am determined that the Council pay for repairs. I don't see why I should pay an excess

Still arguing with them.

[Neferti]

A pleasant 21C here today. Rain predicted for tomorrow.

[skippy]

A Council Eucalypt planting dropped a large branch on my car a few months ago. The car is insured but I am determined that the Council pay for repairs. I don't see why I should pay an excess

Still arguing with them.

A bloke that I work with was driving to work a few weeks ago and bottomed out in a big pot hole and put a hole in his sump. He has written a letter to the council demanding they pay for it. He is an ex English master who is great at writing and his daughter is a lawyer so he had her put his letter on one of her letter heads for better effect. I'm interested to see how it pans out, councils need to be held accountable for their actions, or lack of.

[Outlaw Yogi]

I HATE gum trees!

So do the Chinese apparently.
Years ago they planted a heap of Blue gum plantations because Blue gums grow fast.

Now they're ripping them out because the Blue gums dried their soils too much.

Read about the monster storm down South in the Australian.
Texted my father last night asking if everything was OK?
He said the roof on the factory he currently has his wheel business in leaked in 4 places.
and on the way home hit a pot hole and wrecked 2 wheels.
Lucky he's in the wheel business I spose.

[Black Orchid]

Now they're ripping them out because the Blue gums dried their soils too much.

Link?

No I am not aussie

[AiA in Atlanta]

A pleasant 21C here today. Rain predicted for tomorrow.

Sounds identical to Atlanta today. The yellow pollen here is awful however this time of the year. Cars and everything else is coated. I suspect pine trees

[mantra]

Pine trees are ugly. I didn't know they had pollen until now. I had a large one removed from my garden. There is nothing positive about them.

Pine trees release their pollen during the spring. The pollen resembles yellow dust and coats sidewalks, shrubs and cars. The large grains of pollen fall downward and are not blown far by the wind.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_7832022_do-pi ... ollen.html