Crape myrtle progression

[will0911]

Hello,

i got this crape myrtle at a local nursery for about 10 dollars....i chose it because it had peeling bark and a wide base. this shows the crape from when i started it in mid summer to now in late fall (November). nothing really drastic just basic clip and grow and wiring as needed. later more drastic styling will take place like carving and hollowing out the big pruning scars and staining and sealing the wood for character. any advice on this project is appreciated and wanted. i am currently growing the apex so thats why the top has a long shoot growing out, thanks and hope you enjoy. ill keep this updated as it progresses.


right out of the nursery pot and bare rooted:

Fall after a month or so of new growth and wired some branches:

Fall after another clip and grow and more wiring, starting to take shape:

i cant wait till next spring to see this one fill out with new growth.

 

[jk_lewis]

Just my opinion, of course, but you're growing this to look like a pine tree with a single, tall trunk and evenly spaced side branches. That's not how crape myrtles grow, and (in my opinion, of course) not what crape myrtle bonai shuld look like.

You need a short trunk and spreading branches. Modified broom style would be the best description, I guess.

I offer a couple of mine as examples, though there certainly are other ways to go.

 

[will0911]

Yeah I know I have several crapes just doin something different I guess. This tree isvonly a few months in development but just messing around for now. Thanks for the input and nice trees.

 

[Kaztan]

I like the three trees you show very much indeed, Well done.

 

[will0911]

update on the crape!

enjoy!

Will B.

 

[stacy allen muse]

Will, I personally think you are off to a very good start with this one...
Sorry to diagree... but yes there are single trunk crape myrtles, and they are usually the ones that end up being the nicest!

What I think you need to do... is angle the top branches down a little... on very, very old crape myrtles, they will actually dome over on top, and the branches will start falling back towards the ground, giving the tree an almost weeping look. Next, I think you need to just let this thing grow crazy for a couple of years, controlling only the top growth... for it doesn't really need to be any taller.

 

[will0911]

thank you so much for the kind words! this tree has come a long way in just two years. i will take your advice and let it grow. i might get to see what color the flowers are!

thanks for the virt too!