Eucalyptus are some of the best evergreens to have in a garden at this time of year. Their dusty, grey-green foliage stands out against darker, duller evergreens, seeming to suit the grey, wintry weather, while the bark of both young and more mature specimens can be extremely attractive.

Bring some cut foliage indoors and the leaves will release the characteristic aroma of eucalyptus oil - add them to flower arrangements for a touch of the exotic.

We think of eucalyptus as being Australian trees and shrubs, though they are also found throughout Tasmania, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The first species to be grown in this country came from warmer parts of Australia and proved to be on the tender side. In more recent years, introductions have been made from Tasmania and higher, cooler areas of Australia, so now we have gum trees that are perfectly hardy in most parts of the British Isles.

They will grow in most soils, preferring a well drained, sunny site. Eucalyptus neglecta grows well in partial shade, E. pauciflora is recommended as salt tolerant and good for coastal sites, while E. coccifera and E. gunnii are best for exposed, windy gardens.

Gum trees are very sensitive to root restriction when young, so it pays to plant as small as possible, preferably at between 12 and 18 inches tall. Small trees are best left unstaked, since swaying in the wind helps to build up a strong root system.

Nevertheless, many eucalyptus are prone to wind blow. They grow so quickly that their root system cannot hold up the top growth. One way of preventing this is to cut the tree back hard after a year or so, selecting a single stem from the regrowth to form a new leader and allowing a thick, sturdy trunk to develop.

Look closely at any gum tree and you will see that, like our own native ivies, eucalyptus produce both juvenile and adult foliage. The young leaves tend to be opposite each other and rounded in shape, while the mature, adult leaves are alternate, longer and thinner.

The juvenile leaves are often much more attractive than the older leaves, and shrubs can be pruned in a way that will maintain a majority of young foliage. They are cut right down in spring, to within two or three buds of the base of the plant. The strong new shoots produced as a result of this hard pruning will display juvenile foliage, often larger and showier than the original.

Species such as Eucalyptus urnigera, E. parvula, E. glaucescens and E. coccifera respond well to this treatment. My own specimen of this remarkable genus is Eucalyptus archeri, purchased as a small pot plant from Logan Botanic Garden last spring, and already more than six feet tall. Although the main stem is still thin and whippy, it is an attractive, shiny, deep purple in colour.

I would like to let it grow into a mature tree to see how the bark develops but, since we don't have room for another large specimen tree in the garden, I will have to prune it hard this spring to keep it under control.

Jobs for this week...

Freshen beds and borders planted with spring flowers by lightly forking over the soil surface. This not only looks nicer, it helps surplus water to drain away and may help to deter slugs.

Plant out bowls of hyacinths and daffodils that have finished flowering in the house, before they dry out. Put them in an out of the way spot and feed them well until the foliage dies down - they may flower again next year.

In good weather tidy up the debris left by recent high winds, being careful not to walk too much on wet and soggy lawns.