Hi Suzi. I live in its native habitat (Grevillea robusta, 'silky-oak') and although I don't have it growing in my garden there are quite a few up and down my street. It is the tallest of the grevilleas, growing to 60 feet (18 metres) and, like many Aussie natives their residue will inhibit the growth of other plants beneath them. However the ones near me give very little indication of that, which makes me think that the soil in that raised bed in your picture might need enriching - garden compost, etc. I feel certain that once the tree is removed and the garden there dug over and enriched, you should have no problems. Mind you, palm tree fronds can also inhibit growth beneath them but it appears the area is clear of them.
Regards
B.

Thank you for your answer.

The tree is growing about 14' below that boulder where I stood to take the photo. It's hard to plant anything on the boulder because it's decomposing granite, and you can't dig through it. Weeds seem to grow and there are some areas where we have enriched the soil. We have a fig tree or two up there, but their roots always find the cracks in the rocks. They seem happy.

Can the leaves of the Silky Oak be composted? We have huge piles of these leaves, but I heard they are toxic in compost. Is that true?

Thanks so much!

Suzi

Well, the sap in them restricts the growth of whatever is underneath them. They will, however, compost, but I'd leave them separate from your normal compost heap and maybe even spread a thickness of them over any weed- cover you want to eradicate. But don't be afraid to mix some with your compost heap; they'll break down along with anything else.
B.

As said by funnelweb, compost the leaves. I'd have no problem planting something else there after the stump has been ground deeply.

And if you know any wood-turners or cabinetmakers, they'll fall over themselves to get the timber of that tree. It's highly desirable and quite valuable for fine furniture etc.

Whoever planted a large forest tree like that beauty in a home garden wasn't too wise!

Wish I knew someone who had the equipment to get out the tree and grind the stump and take the lumber, but there is not one cabinetmaker in this entire town! I already checked.

Thanks for the idea, though!

Nice cabinet, shaxhome, 'Silky Oak' (Gr. Robusta). Yeah lovely timber, and to think how much of it was wasted/used to make church pews and stained with dark varnish! A bit of it is milled around here (Tweed Heads area) occasionally along with what's left of the red cedar (Toona Australis) but it's getting very hard to find. Woodworkers are now mostly fashioning furniture out of camphor laurel.