Re: Musings on Tree diseases
- Subject: Re: Musings on Tree diseases
- From: T* &* M* R*
- Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 08:36:10 +1300
William Bade wrote:
>
> In add to one of Glenn's points-that eucalyptus sucks water up from soil,
> we were hosts to a forest professor from Istanbul who told us that they
> were planting eucalyptus in marshy areas to drain their swamps at the rate
> of 80 gallons a day per tree.
Elly
Draining swamps was a common use for eucalypts in Kenya too.
I hadn't seen their actual water requirements quoted before, but it
certainly explains why they can be uncomfortable trees to have in the
garden. I have occasionally seen people here grow one for a few years as
a lawn specimen until most of the lawn finally turns brown from drought
and the householder gives up the unequal struggle. I have also known one
planted unbeknownst over a house drain force its way into the drain
after a year or two and block it in its eagerness to find moisture.
However, people sometimes do grow gums successfully in their properties,
so I suspect some kinds are not nearly as demanding of moisture as the
swamp- drainers and it is largely a matter of chosing the appropriate
species.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand, SW Pacific. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Time
