Copicing Eucaliptus

I have a 14ft tree whic has mainly bare trunk and sparse branches. I believe you can copice these but dont know whether this is whats needed and how to do it.

 

Hi compost maker. I had one in the UK in the 80s and I just "massacred" it as and when required.

They are a tree which I live amongst here and are not cropped as they are native. They are unfortunately burnt to the ground every so many years due to drought/forest fires/arsonists/etc but they are the one tree that will ALWAYS survive anything.

So ... do what you want to with it ... cut it to the ground ... chop its arms off ... make it a shape you want ... it will honour you with beauty.

 

Coppicing is cutting a tree near to ground level and letting it grow from the base again, usually in the form of a large number of stems.
Its done quite often with eucalyptus and is usually sucsessful.
My only attempt was a complete failure and the tree died.
If its shooting at the base already you could be OK.
I'd wait until about April though before cutting it down.

 

There is a branch of healthy growth 5ft from base would you cut it at this branch?

 

Do you cut it straight or on a slant? Do you have to put something on it afterwards.?When would you do it?

 

Sorry but Ive just realised Pete said its April.

 

I only said April because thats when I would cut back, just as growth is starting.
Others have other ideas, I would think you can do it almost any time really, as long as its mild.

 

Thanks. I will wait to be on the safe side.