Cjr Dwarf crepe myrtle

[Cajunrider]

Dwarf crepe myrtle given to me by @Mellow Mullet. It was almost killed by hurricane Laura. I salvaged it from the debris and potted it in high organic fast grow soil. It was touch and go last year with only a handful of leaves. I really didn’t think it would survive last winter because of its extremely low energy reserve. It took much longer than other trees to wake up but its fine now. I lost a lot of the ramification but will build back. I do need advice on styling this tree.

 

[Cajunrider]

If I am able to develop branches on the small trunk to turn toward the big trunk, then the tree will qualify as the Vietnamese Mother & Child style.

 

[Carol 83]

I'm so glad it survived for you! I just got a pokemoke crape, been looking for a dwarf.

 

[nuttiest]

That is definitely some nice dense growth. Can you air layer this species? I would be trying my hardest to make cuttings of it.

 

[Cajunrider]

I am seriously considering allowing one of the water sprouts to develop into a child trunk that is closer to the mother. Then I will try to air layer the current child.

 

[nuttiest]

I tend to look at shoots like that as a sign from the tree where it needs branches and I should pay attention.
In my yard, this tree would be a good candidate for right side ground layer, scraping a bit off the bark on bottom and pinning down. Also do something to the black in that wound
Left it looks like a bud coming where it could correct reverse taper there, or be reduced to.

 

[Cajunrider]

I tend to look at shoots like that as a sign from the tree where it needs branches and I should pay attention.
In my yard, this tree would be a good candidate for right side ground layer, scraping a bit off the bark on bottom and pinning down. Also do something to the black in that wound
Left it looks like a bud coming where it could correct reverse taper there, or be reduced to.

That is not the case with crepe myrtles. They always want to throw up shoot. If you grow crepe myrtles in your yard, they requires at least yearly pruning to keep from becoming a multi trunk trees.

 

[nuttiest]

Oh, Ok. Did you save any? They look like correct internode length for a branch, right?

 

[Cajunrider]

It is the healthiest I have seen while under my care. The hurricane ravage is safely behind us. It is flowering!
By the way I have decided to keep the center part. Future work is to turn the tree into the classic Vietnamese parents and child tree.

 

[Cajunrider]

Pretty and cute flowers

 

[nuttiest]

Looking good! You could always wire one to echo same shapes as mom trunk. Haven't seen many that style will have to look it up