QuestionI planted an Orange tree about 2yrs. ago about 5ft. away from a eucalyptus tree that had been recently cut down but the stump hadn't been grinded. My orange tree doesn't look like it's grown an inch and it looks pretty unhealthy. Are eucalyptus roots like poison to fruit trees? I recently dug up all around the stump and let the air and sun get to it in hopes of killing it once and for all. Should I try planting another orange tree in it's place now?
AnswerDear Amber:
Orange trees can typically get 25 feet tall, but some get to 50 ft. Typical row spacing is 25 feet. In general roots grow about three times the canopy spread. About 1/2 the roots grow under the canopy but the other 1/2 spread beyond the canopy drip line. The eucalyptus tree likely stunted the growth of your orange tree because of the close proximity to one another.
Planting another tree is likely your best option unless you're willing to nurse your orange tree for at least another year by ensuring proper nutrition and water.
If you want to get rid of the eucalyptus stump, listed below is a website that provides a do it yourself alternative to expensive stump grinding:
http://landscaping.about.com/cs/lazylandscaping/ht/stump_removal.htm
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Mack Jean
AllExperts
Master Gardener
Tennessee
