Super Crepe

Mellow Mullet · Jul 20, 2016

Inspired by Jeremy Norbury's thread, "If your trees look good in summer", I went out this morning to take some pictures. I was looking at a couple of Chickasaw dwarf Crepe Myrtles that I worked one this spring. I was surprised how well they had responded and that they even flowered, I was particularly brutal with them.

Here is number one after being brutalized being potted up. It started out as a six foot tall root bound nursery plant.

Here it is today:

Mellow Mullet · Jul 20, 2016

This is number two, but with more detailed pictures.

Started out with an overgrown nursery plant, they actually came from a nursery that had closed several years ago, the plants had grown into the ground through the pot.

A few cuts to cut her down to size.

The best way that I have bound to get rid of too many roots is to break out the saws-all. Goes through them like a hot knife through butter.

Pretty good taper at the base, keeper part is on the right.

Washed most of the soil out to see what is there.

Mellow Mullet · Jul 20, 2016

This is what I decided to keep root-wise.

Decided to go Shohin on it.

Screwed to a board to help with the flare.

Potted up and ready to grow. I will remove the lower branch it the top one survives.

Mellow Mullet · Jul 20, 2016

This is it today:

The scar is already got a good start.

VAFisher · Jul 21, 2016

Very cool. I've also found that you can be pretty brutal with these. I even gave a few this treatment in the summer and they survived just fine.

I noticed the yellow leaves in a few of your pics. Do you think this is related to heat? I ask because some of mine are doing the same thing. They seem fine because they are growing well but the older leaves are turning yellow and dropping. I was curious if you knew the cause.

berobinson82 · Jul 21, 2016

I have 2 crepes almost the same size but I've been cutting them back frequently and enjoying the quick ramification. I love that they flourish in our heat but it always makes me nervous how they start pushing SO late in the season. Grabbed 2 the same size for $5 a piece at a chain nursery.

Cheers

aml1014 · Jul 21, 2016

VAFisher said:
Very cool. I've also found that you can be pretty brutal with these. I even gave a few this treatment in the summer and they survived just fine.

I noticed the yellow leaves in a few of your pics. Do you think this is related to heat? I ask because some of mine are doing the same thing. They seem fine because they are growing well but the older leaves are turning yellow and dropping. I was curious if you knew the cause.

It's just old growth being shaded out, sort of like a juniper, when foliage doesn't get enough sun it dies and falls off.

Aaron

thumblessprimate1 · Jul 21, 2016

I've subscribed. Please let us know how things look later.

Mellow Mullet · Jul 21, 2016

VAFisher said:
Very cool. I've also found that you can be pretty brutal with these. I even gave a few this treatment in the summer and they survived just fine.

I noticed the yellow leaves in a few of your pics. Do you think this is related to heat? I ask because some of mine are doing the same thing. They seem fine because they are growing well but the older leaves are turning yellow and dropping. I was curious if you knew the cause.

It could be the heat, but I think that it is black spot. Some of the ones that turn yellow develop black spots first, sometimes faintly. I don't worry about it since they grow so fast. You are right about developing ramification quickly, my regret is that I have been so busy that I did not take advantage this year.

John

Mellow Mullet · Jul 21, 2016

aml1014 said:
It's just old growth being shaded out, sort of like a juniper, when foliage doesn't get enough sun it dies and falls off.

Aaron

Could be some of it, but I think that it is black spot.

John

Mellow Mullet · Jul 21, 2016

berobinson82 said:
I have 2 crepes almost the same size but I've been cutting them back frequently and enjoying the quick ramification. I love that they flourish in our heat but it always makes me nervous how they start pushing SO late in the season. Grabbed 2 the same size for $5 a piece at a chain nursery.

Cheers

Awesome, they are a great tree. I really don't think they get the credit they deserve. I also think that they are a good tree for beginners to use.

Mellow Mullet · Jul 21, 2016

thumblessprimate1 said:
I've subscribed. Please let us know how things look later.

Thanks, I will. I hope to cut them back tomorrow or next week when I am off again. Fixing to start midnights (yuck).

just.wing.it · Jul 25, 2016

Cool stuff, I can't wait till next year when I can really work my Crape Myrtle for the first time.

drew33998 · Aug 3, 2016

Crepe murder! Love how hard you can push these trees

Super Crepe

Mellow Mullet

Masterpiece

Mellow Mullet

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Mellow Mullet

Masterpiece

Mellow Mullet

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VAFisher

Masterpiece

berobinson82

Omono

aml1014

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thumblessprimate1

Masterpiece

Mellow Mullet

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Mellow Mullet

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Mellow Mullet

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Mellow Mullet

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just.wing.it

Deadwood Head

drew33998

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