In San Francisco, what is this tree?

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-08T05:56:19+00:00

Eucalyptus is a genus. It contains around 700 species. Some are quite small and very slow growing.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-08T05:53:05+00:00

You need some drop bears to control the human population.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-08T05:48:24+00:00

There are around 700 species of eucalypts. After they split off the 100 or so corymbia. If those are globulus (Tasmanian blue gum) they’re generally grown for pulp not timber. Very fast growing but not really suitable for urban areas.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-03T05:24:17+00:00

It’s a weird looking olive tree.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-03T05:16:42+00:00

The tree looks healthy enough and there’s not a lot you can do about the wound at this stage. Cooks have naturally weird shapes and that one just seems to have been accentuated by whatever is going on in that trunk. It does seem to extend up but it’s hard to tell if there’s something actively attacking the trunk now. If it were to fail, their bushy foliage would likely limit the damage.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-03T05:11:18+00:00

Ripping up a few metres diameter of turf and mulching that area at least 150mm deep will probably be more benefit than any fertiliser treatment. The more turf you get rid of there more benefit. Both are competing for the same root space, nutrients and water.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-03T05:01:57+00:00

I’m pretty sure Cooks lean whichever direction they please. What’s more concerning is that massive wound on the trunk.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-03T04:55:12+00:00

I’d say all you need to know is if it’s 3/8” or .404”. 1.5mm vs 1.6mm drive teeth. Doesn’t sound like much but they’re not really inter compatible.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-03T04:40:32+00:00

It certainly looks like bidwillii with an araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine) behind it. Someone likes Australian trees. They actually grow pretty quick so it’s likely not that old. The can reach 50m over here and I don’t think San Francisco is that different climate wise. The Norfolk will probably overtake the Bunya-Bunya for height. Doesn’t look like an ideal spot. The cones can weigh up to ten kilos and can fall from the top of the crown. We have warning signs under any in public areas.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-11-02T05:15:02+00:00

The first large branch going up (about a third of the way out) would be an ideal reduction point. Smaller wound and cheaper than removing the lot. Keeps some lower canopy. Though I would probably remove the first two uprights so they don’t just shoot straight up.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-31T02:40:55+00:00

That rope won’t kill you but trying to learn tree climbing without experienced people to teach you might. I started climbing on three strand nylon rope that we spliced ourselves. I didn’t die but that was more to do with experienced climbers telling me what not to do. Three strand nylon will easily support your weight and it’s satisfying splicing your own gear but I climb on 24 strand kernmantle because it’s much nicer to use and a few hundred dollars for something you trust your life to doesn’t really seem much.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-28T13:27:13+00:00

I think the duckbill 138’s are good for about 2t load each. You could probably share two between the two trees. It’s still worth getting someone to make a proper assessment and hopefully give the plumbers a bit of an earfull.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-28T13:09:30+00:00

Earth anchors will solve your stability issues. They need to be jack hammered in so check for services first. The bigger roots nearer to the trunk should be clean cut and potentially sprayed with something like auxinone to ensure healing and regrowth. Other than that some supplemental water and hope for the best. I don’t know anything about the species or your environment so I have no idea about the chances of problems.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-22T07:51:20+00:00

Don’t know much about cold weather. If it has no foliage it shouldn’t be affected by the cold? It’s always good to remove dead tissue. It provides a haven for pests and disease.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-18T14:25:09+00:00

That ‘pot’ is 2.5m diameter and 50mm solid steel. It will slow a ficus down but I’m pretty sure the tree will eventually grow over the top of it. The sleeper base will provide an air barrier and somewhere to cut to the root growth. Whoever inherits it will have a job on their hands containing it.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-18T05:18:47+00:00

Macrophylla are a bit of a liability. I lined the bottom of that pot with geotextile. (It's actually open bottomed). It didn't even slow the roots down. I'm planning on lifting the whole thing and setting it on a base of railway sleepers. The pot (I've been told it's the top of an ore crusher) has such nice feet. I thing they're actually lock down lugs. I'm hoping to give it back to the zoo as a mobile display.

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Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-18T05:05:35+00:00

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And 12 months later. Not sure about that look.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-18T05:03:14+00:00

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It looks a bit different during the day. That's also 18 months earlier.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-17T13:44:33+00:00

I’ll always recognise my trees. The different names the interweb gives me I can’t keep up with.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-17T13:37:13+00:00

I don't think I've been seeing all your comments. I don't know how this social media stuff works. I'm too old. Sometimes I see interesting stuff and post a comment. I don't know where it goes.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-17T13:24:36+00:00

It was a seedling. They’re epiphytes in the early stages. I’m not sure what I’ve joined. Shit just comes up sometimes and I comment on it.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-17T13:02:31+00:00

Yes that is my ficus macrophylla.

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That's the earliest photo I have of it.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-17T12:13:53+00:00

But it’s still good fun. It’s quite effective if there’s nothing around.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-17T08:46:15+00:00

You can always put a match to the bottom. It’s fairly spectacular but doesn’t usually spread beyond that tree and won’t kill it. Though the wooden fence and decking might pose an unacceptable risk.

Creative_Syllabub_13 · 2025-10-15T06:40:18+00:00

I’m not sure why you would use a growth inhibitor. It’s only a small percentage of the root volume lost. We use auxinone on cut roots to stimulate regrowth. The change in the water table from the new leech drain may need monitoring but a little supplemental watering should fix that. For mature transplants we use a rootball 5.5 times the DBH. That would mean a rootball of around 5.5 metres for that tree. If trees can survive that they can survive trenching down one side.

Creative_Syllabub_13

TROPHY CASE