I don’t think they cause damage to buildings, not at that distance anyway but you might want to check the small print of your buildings insurance.
Haunting_Recipe7662
It will continue to grow 10- 12 ft a year once it starts and easily comes down in the wind. The council had to remove mine, and it was at the bottom of the garden.
redneon
I believe the roots are shallow (not sure whether that’s good or bad for buildings, though). However, these things grow like the clappers. It’ll be double that size in a few years. We had one taken down last year that the previous owners planted which was twice that size and looked like it was going to fall over any time there way any serious wind.
plnterior
The problem is the fact that eucalyptus have such shallow roots, barely anything to anchor a tall, heavy tree. The risk from having it so close to buildings is that in a storm or strong winds it can fall and destroy structures around it. With they way it is already leaning, I personally wouldn’t leave it there any longer.
nhilistic_daydreamer
Coming from an Australian I would be on edge with that in the garden, gum trees are notorious for falling down in wet/windy weather due to the shallow roots.
On a side note I never knew gum trees could grow in the UK climate.
WorldIsYourOxter
Adding to the danger of it falling down, there’s also a risk of koala infestation.
Scasne
We have one and periodically lop the tallest part off, down to where there’s still some leaves, got space and ability to use a long rope, cut and pull it away from the house as it falls, your situation I would recommend a professional then if your planning on living there long time allow the effort to keep it below a manageable height or remove, maybe replace with a dwarf tree with a nice variety or fruit grafted to it.
bigtrblinlilbognor
Your brickwork is a beautiful colour! I have no advice for the tree though.
Smylor
Just had 4 come down in our garden. Planted 30cm saplings 5 years ago and they are now about that size. In hindsight I would remove them haha
barriedalenick
Although they can be lovely looking trees when the bark peels and you get a great show of colour they are absolute beasts. I live in Portugal now where they are, unfortunately, a cash crop. They grow incredibly quickly and if you cut them down to ground level they just grow again – an excellent coppice tree for that reason. They also burn like an oily rag which shouldn’t be an issue for you.
I’d take that out as soon as possible and make sure you get it properly dug out or it will grow again
SSgtReaPer
I have a eucalyptus at the top of the garden been about 25 years now 60 ft tall with a trunk 14 ft circumference, so yeah it’s gona be trouble
nhilistic_daydreamer
They are interchangeable terms, I’ve most commonly heard them referred to as gum’s.
North-Star2443
It’s so pretty but I think the fact it’s leaning towards the house is a concern.
cheesewindow
As mentioned, they grow very quickly! I removed mine as the roots actually made my patio dip due to the shallow roots. Lovely tree but nightmare with it in your garden.
Zesty-Close13
Get it taken out asap, it will fall on your house. They are notorious for having shallow roots and being blown down
OccassionalBaker
It will depend a bit on where you are in the country, but the house is unlikely to have the depth of foundation especially if you are on clay for this to not at least be a consideration to remove. It’s a high water demand species. There’s a lot more to read about here: https://docs.planning.org.uk/20221107/171/RJXSUSCSLFZ00/rdn25glrbvcc5pme.pdf
No-Comfortable6432
Have no idea how far the root systems go to but a tree that size is surely going to be well established – so close to the wall and the roots may impact it’s foundation with time.
Its tall, heavy and already leaning at an angle – looks like it’s grown that way. And it’s right next to your house.
Our house insurance asked specifically about trees close by – it might be more of a consideration following storm eowyn.
Hate to admit that I’d look to remove it – the house looks beautiful and I’d do what was reasonable to protect it. Replace it with something more suitable though. Apple tree? Hell yeah, then you can cultivate it and shape it the way you want.
impamiizgraa
Is there any option to reinforce it rather than take it down? I have none to suggest but could be worth looking into!
WithinWithoutYou007
Not if you have a pet Koala 🐨
spicy_fridge0
As a tree surgeon I would say get an arboricultural inspection to determine tree health and then consider your options from there, perhaps an expensive option but so will removing it- we manage loads of trees like this by deadwooding and removing tip weight to reduce the chances of major branch failure. Also this looks pretty small for a eucalyptus, it will probably grow a lot bigger, something to consider
Paetience
You can just polard the tree if you want to keep it. E.g top it off about the height of your fence. It will sprout new shoots at the cut point for a shorter tree. Controlling the tree like this should also control the root spread.
Quelly0
Not suitable for near buildings. Because, similar to willow and poplar, they have a high water demand and a root system that is far reaching (to get at that moisture). They really dry out soil. If the subsoil is a shrinkable clay, that’s a big problem. The subsoil level would fall as the clay dries and shrinks, and that’s what the house is built on.
Also agree with the person who said the age of the house means it probably doesn’t have foundations, more likely some step/pyramid footings just built on the subsoil. I used to live in a house like that.
So the big danger I think as this gets bigger is ultimately subsidence. Sorry.
There are plenty of low water demand trees that can be planted close to buildings. The RHS has a list of suitable ones. So you could replace it with something more suitable.
JessRushie
Get it removed and plant a native small tree instead!
Miekul67
My mate asked me the same question 20yrs ago and left it, its now 50 to 60 foot tall and he lives next to a Brook which the tree is next to, I can’t wait for a strong af storm🤣🤣🤣🤣 trick with these is to cut the leader branch and keep it as a bush, my mate never and now has a big big problem
clairebearshare
I would get it down and replace it with something else!
25 Comments
I don’t think they cause damage to buildings, not at that distance anyway but you might want to check the small print of your buildings insurance.
It will continue to grow 10- 12 ft a year once it starts and easily comes down in the wind. The council had to remove mine, and it was at the bottom of the garden.
I believe the roots are shallow (not sure whether that’s good or bad for buildings, though). However, these things grow like the clappers. It’ll be double that size in a few years. We had one taken down last year that the previous owners planted which was twice that size and looked like it was going to fall over any time there way any serious wind.
The problem is the fact that eucalyptus have such shallow roots, barely anything to anchor a tall, heavy tree. The risk from having it so close to buildings is that in a storm or strong winds it can fall and destroy structures around it. With they way it is already leaning, I personally wouldn’t leave it there any longer.
Coming from an Australian I would be on edge with that in the garden, gum trees are notorious for falling down in wet/windy weather due to the shallow roots.
On a side note I never knew gum trees could grow in the UK climate.
Adding to the danger of it falling down, there’s also a risk of koala infestation.
We have one and periodically lop the tallest part off, down to where there’s still some leaves, got space and ability to use a long rope, cut and pull it away from the house as it falls, your situation I would recommend a professional then if your planning on living there long time allow the effort to keep it below a manageable height or remove, maybe replace with a dwarf tree with a nice variety or fruit grafted to it.
Your brickwork is a beautiful colour! I have no advice for the tree though.
Just had 4 come down in our garden. Planted 30cm saplings 5 years ago and they are now about that size. In hindsight I would remove them haha
Although they can be lovely looking trees when the bark peels and you get a great show of colour they are absolute beasts. I live in Portugal now where they are, unfortunately, a cash crop. They grow incredibly quickly and if you cut them down to ground level they just grow again – an excellent coppice tree for that reason. They also burn like an oily rag which shouldn’t be an issue for you.
I’d take that out as soon as possible and make sure you get it properly dug out or it will grow again
I have a eucalyptus at the top of the garden been about 25 years now 60 ft tall with a trunk 14 ft circumference, so yeah it’s gona be trouble
They are interchangeable terms, I’ve most commonly heard them referred to as gum’s.
It’s so pretty but I think the fact it’s leaning towards the house is a concern.
As mentioned, they grow very quickly! I removed mine as the roots actually made my patio dip due to the shallow roots. Lovely tree but nightmare with it in your garden.
Get it taken out asap, it will fall on your house. They are notorious for having shallow roots and being blown down
It will depend a bit on where you are in the country, but the house is unlikely to have the depth of foundation especially if you are on clay for this to not at least be a consideration to remove. It’s a high water demand species. There’s a lot more to read about here: https://docs.planning.org.uk/20221107/171/RJXSUSCSLFZ00/rdn25glrbvcc5pme.pdf
Have no idea how far the root systems go to but a tree that size is surely going to be well established – so close to the wall and the roots may impact it’s foundation with time.
Its tall, heavy and already leaning at an angle – looks like it’s grown that way. And it’s right next to your house.
Our house insurance asked specifically about trees close by – it might be more of a consideration following storm eowyn.
Hate to admit that I’d look to remove it – the house looks beautiful and I’d do what was reasonable to protect it. Replace it with something more suitable though. Apple tree? Hell yeah, then you can cultivate it and shape it the way you want.
Is there any option to reinforce it rather than take it down? I have none to suggest but could be worth looking into!
Not if you have a pet Koala 🐨
As a tree surgeon I would say get an arboricultural inspection to determine tree health and then consider your options from there, perhaps an expensive option but so will removing it- we manage loads of trees like this by deadwooding and removing tip weight to reduce the chances of major branch failure. Also this looks pretty small for a eucalyptus, it will probably grow a lot bigger, something to consider
You can just polard the tree if you want to keep it. E.g top it off about the height of your fence. It will sprout new shoots at the cut point for a shorter tree. Controlling the tree like this should also control the root spread.
Not suitable for near buildings. Because, similar to willow and poplar, they have a high water demand and a root system that is far reaching (to get at that moisture). They really dry out soil. If the subsoil is a shrinkable clay, that’s a big problem. The subsoil level would fall as the clay dries and shrinks, and that’s what the house is built on.
Also agree with the person who said the age of the house means it probably doesn’t have foundations, more likely some step/pyramid footings just built on the subsoil. I used to live in a house like that.
So the big danger I think as this gets bigger is ultimately subsidence. Sorry.
There are plenty of low water demand trees that can be planted close to buildings. The RHS has a list of suitable ones. So you could replace it with something more suitable.
Get it removed and plant a native small tree instead!
My mate asked me the same question 20yrs ago and left it, its now 50 to 60 foot tall and he lives next to a Brook which the tree is next to, I can’t wait for a strong af storm🤣🤣🤣🤣 trick with these is to cut the leader branch and keep it as a bush, my mate never and now has a big big problem
I would get it down and replace it with something else!