Eucalyptus mulch - is it good for the soil?

We are having some very large Eucalyptus cut down and wondering whether the Eucalyptus mulch is good for the soil. We want to plant natives and low water plants. I don't know if the oils affect the PH. We still have quite a few Eucalyptus at the bottom of our property we are keeping that produce a lot of leaf litter and wonder whether to compost this or send it to the green waste as well.

All of the native plants I have planted have pretty much died. I am sure their are many factors to this, but they are fine as long as they are in their pots. When I go to plant them, they slowly die. I am wondering if it's the soil. I do plan on having it tested, but the tree guys are coming this Wedensday and I need to know whether to keep the mulch!

Thanks!

Wow! Lots of people ask about eucalyptus mulch, and it's a really important topic in "gum country"! The main thing to remember is that you shouldn't use fresh eucalyptus chips as mulch around young or new plants. Best thing, if you have the space, is to keep the fresh chips in a pile and let them compost for at least 6 months before using. Or, you can spread the chips as mulch on an unplanted area or an area of large established plants just for weed control. But the fresh stuff is too raw to use around new plantings, definitely. The whole thing about native plants (and many other drought-tolerant plants) is that they really only should be planted from Dec. thru Feb. in your area, since that is the season of major root growth. Although anything's possible if you're really careful, in general they just don't like being transplanted at other times of the year. Part of the problem is alkaline irrigation water -- ideally, you want their first 3 months in the ground to be really rainy ones. I'm going to have to find some old columns of mine on topics like these and post them. No one should have to lose plants they paid good money for!

Steve

Thanks so much! Yes, the CA Native plants sell in next weekend and I'd like to indulge again.......so any tips will be helpful. I'll do a search for native plants in the forum as well. I am still getting to know this site.......