here is a new crapemyrtle --it is supposed to be a semi dwarf( only growinf 10feet instead of 25 or 30 feet of the normal crapes
I didn't want to make too many changes to it.
so I simply trimmed it down.
I looked at the roots they are pretty extensive but I'm not sure if I should cut them back. maybe I should wait to cut them back and repot the little tree.
I will send pics of the root ball soon.
[img]https://img828.imageshack.us/img828/9515/dsc03628g.jpg[/img]
here it is right from the nursery
[img]https://img841.imageshack.us/img841/4599/dsc03629k.jpg[/img]
nebari
[img]https://img709.imageshack.us/img709/5013/dsc03631d.jpg[/img]
before wiring
[img]https://img694.imageshack.us/img694/3496/dsc03663ms.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img163.imageshack.us/img163/1764/dsc03664lk.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img202.imageshack.us/img202/8915/dsc03665na.jpg[/img]
any suggestions welcomed.
[img]https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9743/edituo.jpg[/img]
some ideas about the tree. probably going to keep all the trunks but a possible trunk chop at the green line.
I think I will wait til next spring to repot and reduce the root ball..
I've killed too many nice trees cause I was too impatient.
some ideas about the tree. probably going to keep all the trunks but a possible trunk chop at the green line.
I think I will wait til next spring to repot and reduce the root ball..
I've killed too many nice trees cause I was too impatient.
I love Crapes and have several. Your tree can become a beautiful Bonsai specimen over time with judicious pruning.
They can be cut back heavily with little consequence but the type you have as you can see is not really tight, in that the nodes are not as close as some of the mini's and other smaller varieties are. When the nodes (leaves) are farther apart the tree will require a larger size to look in proportion.
Once it's achieved good size light tip pruning of the branches will encourage even more branches to be produced.
Each year after you do your pruning in Spring, if you want flowering you should leave the tips alone so that they will produce buds. If you continue to prune too far into the growing season you will not get a lot of flowering.
So your choice, as I see it, is branch development or flowers. This has always been a real toughie for me personally.
Good luck with your tree. You picked out a nice one.
They can be cut back heavily with little consequence but the type you have as you can see is not really tight, in that the nodes are not as close as some of the mini's and other smaller varieties are. When the nodes (leaves) are farther apart the tree will require a larger size to look in proportion.
Once it's achieved good size light tip pruning of the branches will encourage even more branches to be produced.
Each year after you do your pruning in Spring, if you want flowering you should leave the tips alone so that they will produce buds. If you continue to prune too far into the growing season you will not get a lot of flowering.
So your choice, as I see it, is branch development or flowers. This has always been a real toughie for me personally.
Good luck with your tree. You picked out a nice one.
here it is with some wiring.
hopefully I ll get some more leaf reduction next year when I can leave it out side in full sun. so far focusing on branch ramification bring the foliage closer to the trunk.
still trying to decide on a front.
[img]https://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4860/dsc03701x.jpg[/img]
perhaps this would be the better front
[img]https://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7541/dsc03700o.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9169/dsc03697g.jpg[/img]
thinking about removing the little branch near the center, its going the opposite direction of all the other branches
hopefully I ll get some more leaf reduction next year when I can leave it out side in full sun. so far focusing on branch ramification bring the foliage closer to the trunk.
still trying to decide on a front.
[img]https://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4860/dsc03701x.jpg[/img]
perhaps this would be the better front
[img]https://img204.imageshack.us/img204/7541/dsc03700o.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img696.imageshack.us/img696/9169/dsc03697g.jpg[/img]
thinking about removing the little branch near the center, its going the opposite direction of all the other branches
Looks good and I think your idea about removing that branch is a good one.
I don't know how much more time you have before you get some real cold out there in St. Louis, but I would probably wait to prune it till Spring to be on the safe side. They really do well with being pruned so don't worry about cutting unnecessary growth off of it.
I don't know how much more time you have before you get some real cold out there in St. Louis, but I would probably wait to prune it till Spring to be on the safe side. They really do well with being pruned so don't worry about cutting unnecessary growth off of it.