Welcome to this article that will talk about the negative effects that eucalyptus will bring wherever it grows. Unfortunately, there are quite a few things to consider before choosing to grow a tree.
In this article, we will discuss the impact the tree has on the soil and the general diversity of the forest or place it’s growing in.
Generally speaking, it’s considered bad to grow eucalyptus as it outcompetes other plants and trees and takes the nutrients for itself.
Negative Effects Of Eucalyptus Tree
Like we mentioned at the beginning of this article here there are a few negative effects that eucalyptus will have. Some Of these include that the soil will be sourer as the leaves of the tree start to decompose and eventually lower the pH.
This decrease in pH makes it harder for other plants to grow there and be able to establish themselves.
In the case of eucalyptus, it can grow in harsh places where there is not a lot of rain. This does however make it a good option for wood fuel in places where other trees aren’t able to be growing.
The roots of the tree will grow deep but they will also grow wide. This will start to choke out the other trees nearby and over time they won’t be able to grow there anymore.
The eucalyptus tree was introduced in California a few decades ago to be a great option to have for fuel. But it instead started to overwhelm the forests and now we can see large areas that only consist of this variety.
This lack of diversity will have an impact not only on the plants but also on the wildlife. Some animals rely on having a source of plants and trees to get their food. When eucalyptus gets there then this task gets a lot harder.
If you would like to learn more about eucalyptus in the sense of it being an evergreen then we have written an article just about that. Find it here, Is Eucalyptus An Evergreen.
Is Eucalyptus Tree Bad For the Environment
The impact that eucalyptus can have on the land it’s growing in can be severe. It can drain the soil of vital nutrients from other plants. But they also have the unfortunate effect of lowering the pH of the soil as the leaves decompose.
This causes a lack of diversity and other trees aren’t able to thrive and continue growing. As trees are a source for absorbing carbon dioxide this gets more and more difficult.
And in places like California where there are a lot of cars then it’s vital to have a lot of trees growing there to be able to not be overwhelmed with these large amounts of gasses caused by humans.
In one way they are good, as they can grow in places where there is a lack of nutrients and water. Places like these can get populated with eucalyptus as other trees aren’t able to grow there.
If you would like to learn more about the smell of the eucalyptus leaves then we have an article about that. Find it here, Do Eucalyptus Leaves Smell.
Is Eucalyptus Tree Harmful To Humans
The tree is not really harmful to humans. The tree can cause harm to the soil more than humans. Since we use the natural oils from the tree in products like soap and scented candles then it would be bad if it turns out it’s bad for us.
But if you are allergic to pollen then the tree can be very bad for humans as it emits a lot of it. But during the year, this only really happens in the spring for the most part and the rest of the year it will be harmless.
All in all, eucalyptus is a lovely tree to grow if you want something that smells very nice at home. But for a diverse forest and ecology then the eucalyptus tree does not show any sign of promoting that.
