Tree care for a lonely Walkerville tree

Evan Enbom • July 5, 2018

A Swamp Gum with Prom Views gets a little TLC...

Several months ago, Kirsty contacted us seeking advice on how to best protect the only tree on her block in Walkerville, overlooking Wilsons Promontory. This old, gnarled Eucalyptus ovata or Swamp Gum certainly hadn't had an easy life.

We identified several key issues - stock pressure leading to compacted soil, competition with grass and weeds and a stressed canopy indicated by a large amount of 'deadwood'. We prescribed an application of partially composted mulch and a thorough thinning of dead, damaged and diseased growth from the canopy.

Loading up our 4x4 truck back at base with one of 2 loads destined for the lonely Walkerville Swamp Gum. Arborist mulch or 'bush mulch' is really excellent for tree health. It simulates the natural accumulation of leaves and bark on the forest floor, conserving soil moisture, increasing microorganism activity and over time reducing compacted soil.

4 tonnes of mulch applied and several hundred kilos of deadwood removed leaving a clean and aesthetically appealing feature tree for this garden to be. We've given this old girl the best chance at survival, let's hope she lives for many more years to come.

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