ATTACK the MONSTER CRAPE!

[Dav4]

That is one impressive tree...glad it survived!

Dave

 

[catfish chapstick]

what a fat little tree! one of the fattest i've seen i keep expecting to see aerial roots. looks like it could climb out of its container and beat me at arm wrestling.

 

[ericN]

keep us updated on this monster tree. glad it made it.

eric

 

[R_F]

Growing Fast

This tree is growing quickly this year. Things warmed up last month so it took off. I cut back all the long, out of control branches that I let extend at the end of last year's growing season. This caused all of the interior buds to break. I've been pinching the right side of the tree like crazy and the left side I'm letting grow out to extend the silhouette on that side. It's growing really strong, I was planning on defoliating it at some point this year and wiring it out, but I wonder if I would gain anything by defoliating it now and wiring it out. What do you more experienced people think?

 

[milehigh_7]

This tree is growing quickly this year. Things warmed up last month so it took off. I cut back all the long, out of control branches that I let extend at the end of last year's growing season. This caused all of the interior buds to break. I've been pinching the right side of the tree like crazy and the left side I'm letting grow out to extend the silhouette on that side. It's growing really strong, I was planning on defoliating it at some point this year and wiring it out, but I wonder if I would gain anything by defoliating it now and wiring it out. What do you more experienced people think?

Nice to see an update! Thanks!

 

[Jason]

Wow!! (I'm not able to answer your question, I'm just staring in disbelief). That thing is amazing....make sure you take good care of it.

 

[Otisdog]

Awesome tree!

 

[R_F]

Defoliated!

Thanks for the compliments guys.


I went ahead and defoliated (See pic). It took an hour and a half! I'm used to defoliating shohin and chuhin size trees. This is the first time I've ever defoliated a tree this size. I've never defoliated my smaller crape myrtles this early in the season. But with the way it is growing I doubt I'll have any problems. My plan is to keep pinching it back hard and really focus on creating some good branch structure. I'm still debating whether or not I should wire this guy out or just keep doing the clip and grow method like I have been for the past 5 years or so.

 

[R_F]

Balancing Energy

I noticed this spring that part of the right side of the tree was very strong. The left side not quite as strong and the top had the least amount of strength. I'm trying a new (to this tree) technique. I defoliated the top about 2 weeks ago and mostly defoliated the left side about 2 days ago. In about another week I'll defoliate the right side. Not sure if this will help balance the energy in a crape myrtle or not. But we will see!

 

[MrFancyPlants]

The ramification is coming along real nice. Thanks for the update.

David

 

[Poink88]

Wow...very nice!

 

[A Random User]

I noticed this spring that part of the right side of the tree was very strong. The left side not quite as strong and the top had the least amount of strength. I'm trying a new (to this tree) technique. I defoliated the top about 2 weeks ago and mostly defoliated the left side about 2 days ago. In about another week I'll defoliate the right side. Not sure if this will help balance the energy in a crape myrtle or not. But we will see!

Curious question...
Why not just defoliate the stronger side ?

Another way to control and help balance a tree that I have
found very useful and less stressful, is by going through and
removing older, and bigger foilage in the areas with more
strength. Even just removing some of the foilage, thinning
it out works rather well.

Very nice material... I know this sounds funny, but have you
considered allowing it to become a bigger tree ? I think it
would help balance out the awesome thickness of your trunk.

Keep up the good work !!!

 

[Lars Grimm]

@RyanFrye Any updates on this tree?

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Too bad the last update is from 2013. I wish to see more of this tree. This really is back breaker level.

 

[johng]

I'm pretty sure Ryan sold or at least had this tree for sale several years ago...if I remember correctly he was asking a pretty exorbant price so maybe it sold or maybe it didn't??

 

[sorce]

Too bad the last update is from 2013. I wish to see more of this tree. This really is back breaker level.

This is kinda where you're can go.
IMO.

Sorce