Rainbow eucalyptus tree broken leader

[miamicuse]

Something broke the central leader of my Rainbow eucalyptus tree.

It was planted October 2021.  At the time it was 6 feet tall, then a year later about 10 feet tall, then two weeks ago back to 7 feet tall because something happened to it the leader just broke off, don't know if it's wind or what that caused it.   Here you can see the entire leader section just hanging upside down.

I removed the broken leader.

Should I cut the top back?  If so how far down to make the cut?

Should I remove the lateral branches near the broken top?

[D Palm]

Given that situation, I would cut it at an angle and remove the very thin branches near the cut. The tree may try to send out a new lead offset from the angled cut, some do. I do not know about this species though.

Edited November 10, 2022 by D Palm

[miamicuse]

14 hours ago, D Palm said:

Given that situation, I would cut it at an angle and remove the very thin branches near the cut. The tree may try to send out a new lead offset from the angled cut, some do. I do not know about this species though.

Thank you.

I looked up a few web sites  with discussions on "damaged leader" or "broken leader" online and some said to cut it back.  Some said to find another branch and tie it to the original central leader to force it to be the new leader.  Some said to wait and see.

I don't know if there is a "correct" remedy to this, or if the remedy depends on the tree species.

[PalmatierMeg]

Rainbow eucalyptus are highly wind-damage prone.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Cut the broken leader out cleanly.  Allow new sprouts to form and grow.  Wait til spring or early summer when their will be plenty of strong shoots to choose from.  Retain the strongest one and remove the rest.

[miamicuse]

Here are some better pictures of the broken end.  I have labeled the remaining branches in the pictures below.

A close up of the broken end.

If I do a clean cut, I guess I have to cut it below where A, B1, B2 are and remove that entirely?  Or try to cut A with the broken end off and somehow leaves B1 and B2 alone?

[Merlyn]

Eucalyptus are known for breaking in half in hurricanes, they are a serious risk when they rapidly grow to 50-100 feet tall.  It's why I decided to not plant one at my house, even though Orlando is well inland and hurricanes usually lose strength by the time they get here.  With that in mind, maybe promoting "bushiness" instead of a single strong, tall leader is a good idea?  It also depends on what you want it to look like when it gets older.  Some people like the tall, thin, branchless lower.  I think the wild lower branches is neat and shows off the rainbow colors:

[miamicuse]

12 hours ago, Merlyn said:

Eucalyptus are known for breaking in half in hurricanes, they are a serious risk when they rapidly grow to 50-100 feet tall.  It's why I decided to not plant one at my house, even though Orlando is well inland and hurricanes usually lose strength by the time they get here.  With that in mind, maybe promoting "bushiness" instead of a single strong, tall leader is a good idea?  It also depends on what you want it to look like when it gets older.  Some people like the tall, thin, branchless lower.  I think the wild lower branches is neat and shows off the rainbow colors:

That was my concern as well, the extreme heights of 30m+.  However, over the years when I see them locally they do not get near this height.  In fact there are two nurseries that I visit a few times a year that have this planted, one of them have two, both within 5 feet from the main structure, and they were 20' or so tall in 1996, and they are still less than 30' tall in 2022.  So every time I see this tree at any local nursery and quite a few of them have it, I would ask them about it and pretty much everyone said they do not get this tall in south Florida.

Perhaps they do not get too tall in south Florida because the wind will knock off taller branches?

Edited November 12, 2022 by miamicuse

[D Palm]

I would place my saw right below B1,B2 and cut at an angle down towards A. Leave C & D alone for now. 3% peroxide on the saw cut.

May not be text book, but what I would do.

you could also remove A, and prune off B1 or B2 leaving the remainder in hopes the tree picks that remaining B branch as a leader. Not knowing how it would grow, I’d go with first recommendation. Forcing the tree to create a new leader or many branches out and up. Then choose most sturdy.

Edited November 12, 2022 by D Palm

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Don't cut anything off now.  Your new photo is clearer to me now.  Let what you have grow a bit and then make your selection.  Your tree has already decided that it will be either B1 or B2 or maybe even the vertical sprout on A.  Just let it grow a season.  There is no emergency to make a decision now.

[Merlyn]

9 hours ago, miamicuse said:

That was my concern as well, the extreme heights of 30m+.  However, over the years when I see them locally they do not get near this height.  In fact there are two nurseries that I visit a few times a year that have this planted, one of them have two, both within 5 feet from the main structure, and they were 20' or so tall in 1996, and they are still less than 30' tall in 2022.  So every time I see this tree at any local nursery and quite a few of them have it, I would ask them about it and pretty much everyone said they do not get this tall in south Florida.

Perhaps they do not get too tall in south Florida because the wind will knock off taller branches?

Yeah, my guess is that there's enough hurricanes in South Floriduh to knock off the tall leaders before they get anywhere close to the 200' potential.  Or they get hit by lightning when they get over 40'...   ⚡⚡⚡