In message , Chris
Long writes
Hi all,

I'm new to this group and fairly new to gardening.
I have a query. I bought a gum tree last year and planted it in a large pot.
It has flourished and it has move into a much larger pot.

At the moment it is growing directly up and still needs support despite
being about 9 feet tall.
If i cut the top foot off will this stop the upwards growth?
Basically I'd like to keep it in the pot as we rent and i want to take the
tree with us when we move. So, I'd like to trqain it so that the height
stays the same but the trunk thickens.


You mean a Eucalyptus?

Just taking out the top won't stop it growing up, another shoot will
take start to grow upwards in its' place. I guess maybe you could try
pruning it back repeatedly, but I dunno how it would look.

I think you might be on a hiding to nothing, they are big tree's
potentially not shrubs, and not all like to be restrained in this way.

You can however coppice them in pots successfully.

There is some advice on Eucalyptus Nurseries website on:

http://www.eucalyptus.co.uk/
--
Chris French and Helen Johnson, Leeds
urg Suppliers and References FAQ:
http://www.familyfrench.co.uk/garden/urgfaq/index.html