Crepe Myrtles

Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) - Watermelon

Around here, crepe myrtles will bloom from June until it's not hot.  There will be a constant flow of confetti-like petals littering our driveway.  Some people don't like that and consider it a mess.  Not me.  Boo Hoo.  I have pretty pink petals blowing around my yard.  Seed pod will form and can be snipped or left for the birds.  The leaves will turn orange-red between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Crepe myrtles like full sun and well drained soil.  Done.  If fact, once they are established irrigation should be done only when needed.  I've never had problems with mildew; but honeydew is an issue.  Aphids or other pests enjoy munching on the vegetation then process the plant material and produce honeydew.  That fine mist you experience while strolling beneath crepe myrtles is not a refreshing shower.  Nope.  It's insect pee/poop.  I don't worry about it and alternate my route.  Some apply systemic pesticides to resolve the problem.  I think I would rather have the honeydew than the poison.

Dallas Arboretum Crepe Myrtles (These are my favorites!)

Pruning crepe myrtles is supposed to be done sparingly.  Whoops.  Farmer MacGregor didn't read that part and has really giving this multi trunk tree and severe clipping in the past few years.  We are now in the process of trying to remedy the damage.  If the tree ever gets unhealthy, we'll just remove and replace.  But I'm hoping for the best.  Perhaps I can contemplate a front yard design incorporating a tunnel of lavender crepe myrtles, but I can't see Farmer MacGregor going for it.

Pruning Seminar

Today, Farmer MacGregor and I attended a pruning seminar at a local nursery.  My intent was to glean information to correct some improper pruning on a crepe myrtle.  I came away with pruning information for much more.

Blenheim Apricot just pruned damaged section.

I asked the advice of many experts and regular gardeners whether the damaged lateral limb on the apricot tree should be pruned out.  Dave Wilson, the grower of most all of my trees, instructed me to prune out the damaged portion and destroy.  The damaged section was removed.  Tar was applied to the cut end.  A young limb near the cut was chosen as a replacement lateral and tied down with tape to start the process.

Blenheim Apricot damaged lateral limb.

Even though no evidence of insects could be seen, I've convinced myself that this pruning was necessary to insure a better chance for this tree to remain healthy for a long time.

Ebb Tide tree rose before Ajax chewed it into the shape of a walking stick.

Pruning of all types of roses was addressed with great interest from most of the audience.  This inspired Farmer MacGregor to do some corrective pruning once we got home.  Nine bare root roses were planted on January 20.  Two Ebb Tide tree roses and seven Iceberg bush roses.  Even though the dog chewed one of the trees, all the roses look as though they are still healthy and will grow to produce some nice purple and white flowers.

Shade trees, vines, dormant spray, fertilization, soil, and irrigation were addressed as well.  The seminar might still be going on if the owner's wife hadn't interrupted reminding us that the seminar should have ended 1/2 hour earlier.

Tomorrow, Farmer MacGregor plans to tackle the crepe myrtle.  I'm glad the seminar sparked him.  I hope images of the crepe myrtles at The Dallas Arboretum inspire him.

How do YOU spell it?  Crepe myrtle or crape myrtle?

After thought:

Ajax the wonder pruner!

Ajax is now around 205 pounds at 2 years old.  Pruning has been part of his existence from the start.  Fig, wisteria, roses, and, yes, apricot have all been on his menu.  I wonder if Ajax could be the cause of the damage to the apricot rather than a suspected borer. That mug looks pretty guilty to me.

Fresh New Year!

 

In summer, the Watermelon Crepe Myrtle is in full bloom with confetti like petals.  They grow really well in zone 8-9 and are extremely tolerant of the dry heat.  Some gardeners don’t like the mess the petals make; but I don’t mind the crinkly pink confetti floating around the yard.  By the end of August, evidence of the crepe myrtle is most everywhere.

Before 2011 hit, I wanted to make sure to do some cleaning.  A couple of bedrooms and the laundry was on my list.  The recent rains had wrecked my windows and they really needed to be cleaned; so that task was added to my list.  The type of windows we have make cleaning super easy.  The outside can swing inside for cleaning then swing back out to secure in place.  Pretty convenient.

As the windows were cleaned, remnants of the summer of 2010 were revealed.  Leaf cutting bees seem to adore crepe myrtle petals.  Once they have chomped the petals, they buzz over to the neighboring windows and some how build nests shaped similar to a pencil.  This cycle happens annually.  So as I bid good bye to the old year, the bees from summer provide me with confetti to toss in celebration of a fresh, new year.

Happy 2011!