"Rod Out back" wrote in message
...
All,

We have a Lemon-Scented Gum in the garden; about 30 feet tall. We thought
it
had died in the drought, but we notice that 4 weeks after the rain, the
tree
is shooting again. It is a tall, narrow tree, and the trunk divides into 2
about 12 feet up, and then both divide again about 6 feet further up.
The tree doesnt look all that well; the shoot isnt vigorous, or cover the
majority of each branch.

The decision has been made to lop it to a less dangerous height. This
decision was reached before this drought, as I understand they are prone
to
shedding the odd limb. I have been told they have a tendency to split
where
the branches divide. The current height means if it sheds a major section,
we will be repairing the roof we only had replaced some 3 years ago.

IIRC limbs with small angles between the trunk and limb (ie the limb grows
more upwards than out) are more prone to splitting off, whereas those with
the limb growing more horizontal to the ground will be stronger.

My question is whether we should remove the tree entirely, or lop it. If
we
lop it, where is a good place to lop? All the re-growth is in the upper
branches; none of it is below the second division of the 2 major limbs.

It may be well worth getting in a tree lopping service, who can tell you if
it has a disease or not.
Lopping may help, but if it's diseased then it will more than likely be in
the part that is to be lopped and affect new growth.
If it was healthy then the re-growth should occur in the lower section after
it is lopped.
Even the local council should have some inspector that can come out and give
an evaluation on the tree and say what is wrong with it, and whether it's
safe or not. If your roof was fixed a few year back due to a falling limb
and you tell them, then they will probably condem the tree, and if I were
you I'd be taking it right out too.
We have limbs fall all the time at work, we call them widowmakers. A tree
service come in, removed all dangerous limbs, but the only solution to stop
the smaller, yet still dangerous ones falling is total tree removal, which
is not what the course wants due to wildlife, which is fair enough

It will be sad to lop it; the Rainbow Bee-Eaters use it as a base when
having their morning insect catch. However, I also note they dont mind
the
large Coolibahs the other side of the garden as well, so maybe they'll
survive...

I also wondered what people can tell me about African Milk Bush. We have
a
stand of them that catch the mid-late afternoon sun on the northern side
of
our house. They get very sad looking in Winter, but in summer they
produce
a nice green shade along one verandah. They are also the favourite place
for
the green tree frogs to sleep the day away; especially if it isnt too hot.
I appreciate the plant is toxic to handle, but this isnt really a great
concern where we have it growing (hard to get to). What I would like to
know
is, if I was setting up a garden from scratch, what shade and water
requirements do they need?

I was thinking that when I set up my garden at the cottage, I was thinking
of a pond for the frog brothers, a large jumble of sandstone rocks and I
was
thinking of a stand of these plants nearby. There will be other plants as
well, but the frog brothers certainly like this plant to sleep in.

Can't help you with the milk bush, but have noticed frogs love the "strap
leaf" type plants like lomandra, flax, and dietes.
Good luck with it, and really when it comes to the tree, try pruning it
right down, se how it goes, and if it fails then at least you tried. Just
make sure you get approval from the council if it's needed.

Ideas on either topic welcomed.

Cheers,

Rod.......Out Back