Conflicting advice about when to reduce eucalyptus tree

[Mamabear04]

I have a giant eucalyptus tree in my back garden that's around 60ft tall. I had a tree surgeon to look at it and he suggested a 50% reduction but to do it in October. My DH also enquired with someone and they said summer is the time to do it. Anyone know the real answer? We live in Scotland so if it is to be done in hot weather we really only have the next month to see to it...

Sorry, can't help but I am watching.

We're moving next month and have 2 gorgeous but massive eucalyptus trees in the garden that will need some reducing!

Any time you like. They're unkillable. I've cut them I summer and winter, with no noticeable difference.

I usually follow RHS advice. They say to prune winter/spring. However, if you prefer not to wait, I agree with others that timing isn’t critical. In Australia eucalyptus trees regenerate after forest fires and they can happen anytime over their summer.

We had our massive eucalyptus cut down last summer, it did sprout from the stump. I think winter pruning is advised because the tree is dormant and it is less likely that disease will get in.

With most trees you prune in winter to encourage growth and in summer to restrict growth. Eucalyptus are very vigorous so I suspect it won’t matter very much either way.

So it seems really any time is OK? It's funny how the tree surgeon said to check back with him in October (and that was in April!) Maybe I need to get some other quotes...

I planted a baby Eucalyptus in my small back garden.
It grew almost visibly in summer.
My neighbs asked very nicely that I take it down - and advised that Iook to see how huge they get.
I cut it down!

As saplings, they are graceful, but they are for wide acreages NOT domestic gardens in my opinion-
Seen so many 20 yr plus ones truncated and they look a mess.
.Leave them to the Australian wilderness where they have space and no needs of a tree surgeon! :)

The Japanese knotweed of trees!

I agree with you @oakleaffy. Our neighbours had one which is thankfully gone now. Planted too close to the boundary and took all the light and nutrients from our garden. I’ve seen them for sale here without any suggestion for how big they get or how quickly they grow. They are adapted to a hash climate in their native Australia so are very good at hunting out any available moisture in the soil, to the detriment of other plants. And if moisture is plentiful they grow very very quickly.

A tree that size is likely to have nesting birds (nesting season usually between March to August although there can be nests outside of that). That would be a good reason to delay until at least September to avoid disturbing them. Sounds like the tree surgeon was being responsible.