Crape Myrtle Crazy

[VAFisher]

I was out watering this morning and realized that I have started to amass a decent collection of crapes - so I decided to snap a quick picture. None of them are anything to write home about but I'm having fun with them. They are a good choice for me because I don't have a ton of shade in my yard and they seem to be pretty bullet proof (which is a good thing for me). Of the 10 I have, 6 of them are the pokomoke dwarf variety from the local nursery, 2 were dug out of my yard and 2 were pulled out of my fiancés gravel driveway when I moved her furniture out of her old house. Anyway, just thought I would share.

 

[Vin]

I was out watering this morning and realized that I have started to amass a decent collection of crapes - so I decided to snap a quick picture. None of them are anything to write home about but I'm having fun with them. They are a good choice for me because I don't have a ton of shade in my yard and they seem to be pretty bullet proof (which is a good thing for me). Of the 10 I have, 6 of them are the pokomoke dwarf variety from the local nursery, 2 were dug out of my yard and 2 were pulled out of my fiancés gravel driveway when I moved her furniture out of her old house. Anyway, just thought I would share.

Nice collection. I'm not trying to tell you what to do but if you are able to put them in the ground for just a few years the trunks should double and then some in size. Just a thought.

 

[VAFisher]

Nice collection. I'm not trying to tell you what to do but if you are able to put them in the ground for just a few years the trunks should double and then some in size. Just a thought.

I may do that again in the future. The 2 in the back right corner were in the ground for about 3 years before I dug them up this year. I decided on different plants in the landscape where they were so just decided to put them in a pot. I don't have a dedicated grow out area for bonsai in the ground yet but that's a plan for the future. Maybe a raised bed behind all of the benches.

Here's a shot of one of them right after I dug it. The clump of 3 trunks on the left died but the rest leafed out well. I was bummed but still think it looks nice without those trunks. Maybe an angle change at the next repot to make the remaining trees in the clump more upright.

 

[GrimLore]

Nice accumulation and honest they can look nice not grown out as well. Pokomoke Miniature varieties are one of my favorites as well. Tiny leafs, etc... Thank you for sharing

Grimmy

 

[Vin]

I may do that again in the future. The 2 in the back right corner were in the ground for about 3 years before I dug them up this year. I decided on different plants in the landscape where they were so just decided to put them in a pot. I don't have a dedicated grow out area for bonsai in the ground yet but that's a plan for the future. Maybe a raised bed behind all of the benches.

Here's a shot of one of them right after I dug it. The clump of 3 trunks on the left died but the rest leafed out well. I was bummed but still think it looks nice without those trunks. Maybe an angle change at the next repot to make the remaining trees in the clump more upright.

That's a shame, it would have made a nice clump. I have nearly an acre of land and find it difficult to plant things in the ground so I know what you mean. BTW, the second one from the right in the back is looking pretty good. Looking forward to their progress.

 

[JudyB]

If you are going to share, how bout some single shots taken from a better angle? I'd like to see a bit more of what you've got going on.

 

[VAFisher]

If you are going to share, how bout some single shots taken from a better angle? I'd like to see a bit more of what you've got going on.

Will do. This was just an impulse picture snapped with my phone this morning. I'll get some better, straight on shots with an actual camera.

 

[VAFisher]

Here's a current shot of the clump I dug this year. Suggestions are welcome.

 

[johng]

I enjoy working with CM as well. One option available to you is to make smaller trees instead of trying to grow them out. Chop down to 3-4 inches and regrow branches....two growing seasons with lots of pruning would create a nice little 6-8" tree. Pokomoke is an excellent variety for small trees. I also really like tightwad....nice foliage and prolific bloomer.

 

[Vin]

I've fooling around with this for the last year or so. It's got a long way to go.

 

[VAFisher]

Nice Vin. That looks like it's going to be a good one. johng, I did chop 2 of the pokomokes down pretty low. We'll see what I can come up with on those - thanks.

 

[VAFisher]

As promised, here is a better shot of another one that I dug from my yard this spring. I've wired the main branches and have been pruning it fairly regularly for shape. Based on something I read - I think in either one of johng's or jkl's threads - about crape branches thickening wih ramification, I've been keeping this one trimmed back as often as I can.

 

[JudyB]

Looking nice, I wonder if you can root graft these with success? I would attempt to add something to fill the gap between the root and trunk. I see a small shoot back there, that will probably help. What does this look like from the other side?
Also, I think you could get more movement on the branching at least near the trunk. I realize that you may not keep the long parts, but whatever you intend to keep, you should get movement into while it's still young and flexi.

 

[Vin]

As promised, here is a better shot of another one that I dug from my yard this spring. I've wired the main branches and have been pruning it fairly regularly for shape. Based on something I read - I think in either one of johng's or jkl's threads - about crape branches thickening wih ramification, I've been keeping this one trimmed back as often as I can.

I like it! Have you thought about leaning it a little more to the right and then bringing the leader back to the left? It would create more movement in my opinion. Either way you have some nice branch placement and a good basic form to work with.

 

[Vin]

Looking nice, I wonder if you can root graft these with success? I would attempt to add something to fill the gap between the root and trunk. I see a small shoot back there, that will probably help. What does this look like from the other side?
Also, I think you could get more movement on the branching at least near the trunk. I realize that you may not keep the long parts, but whatever you intend to keep, you should get movement into while it's still young and flexi.

I'll be trying it in the spring on another one I have so I'll let you know then.

 

[VAFisher]

This one is a pokomoke that I bought last year and originally included in an attempt at a group planting. I wasn't very happy with the group and decided to split them up this year. Winter was hard on this one too and most of the branches died way back. It was probably a blessing in disguise because I probably would have been scared to be as brutal as mother nature turned out to be. It was slow to leaf out (even for a crape) this spring but then grew strongly for a while. It has stalled lately so I hope things are ok with it.



I'm not sure how I feel about the sling shot look on this one so I've played around with the idea of changing the front to lessen that effect.



Or even getting drastic and losing the whole left side and going after a literati design. I'm definitely not ready to commit to that yet though.

 

[VAFisher]

This is a another pokomoke that I bought this year. This one has a sling shot too that I'll probably have to deal with. I was originally using the second pic as the front but I think I like this direction better. It could stand to be shortened quite a bit too I guess.

 

[VAFisher]

Looking nice, I wonder if you can root graft these with success? I would attempt to add something to fill the gap between the root and trunk. I see a small shoot back there, that will probably help. What does this look like from the other side?
Also, I think you could get more movement on the branching at least near the trunk. I realize that you may not keep the long parts, but whatever you intend to keep, you should get movement into while it's still young and flexi.

The other side is not as good. There is a stub from another trunk that I cut off on that side. I left the stub because it helps fill the gap between the trunk and roots from this side. I'll work on the wiring on the branches. Root grafting is definitely above my current skill level but that's a good thought for the future - if i can keep the tree alive that long!

 

[VAFisher]

I like it! Have you thought about leaning it a little more to the right and then bringing the leader back to the left? It would create more movement in my opinion. Either way you have some nice branch placement and a good basic form to work with.

I will definitely explore that option. Thanks Vin.

 

[JudyB]

The second tree you are showing does not read as much of a sling shot as the first. If you wanted to do a naturalistic tree with this one, as a broom, I would suggest to wire the secondary trunk and move it closer to the main trunk. Then it will not read as a Y trunk, this looks achievable to me. I wouldn't use the second side, as there are so many wounds that will remain a bit lumpy and the first side is nice and clean.