Nursery Stock Crepe Myrtle #1

Apex37

Chumono
Messages
607
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677
Location
Fort Worth, Texas
USDA Zone
8a
I’ve had this guy little under a year and figured I’d start a thread to track his progress and all. He’s got a long way to go, but I did some pruning last night and figured I’d start a thread for him. Here’s some upcoming plans and issues:

1. I’m having difficulty picking a front for this tree, and while this isn’t the end of the world, it would definitely help in what styling direction to go.
2. I question really leaving any of the branching that is there and maybe starting over from scratch (except of course the lower sacrificial branch). I know these back bud like crazy, but I do think one of the two apexes (which I know they compete and I’ll need to pick one) could be usable in the design.
3. I’ve noticed some slight inverse taper about 2/3 the way up from where I did a large cut back when I first got him. I had watched a YouTube video from a while back from Ted Matson on crepe myrtle pruning and he stated that he recommends a flat cut for crepes. Not sure how many of you do this, but I followed that and it is now starting to callous over so quickly that it’s now starting to bulge at that spot. Not really sure there is much that can be done with that, maybe carving, but that’s a bit out of my wheelhouse.
4. And finally, the roots are a MESS. I’m planning once I remove the sacrificial branch in the back that I’ll work on starting the roots over with a ground layer at lowest point.

Any feedback or advice is always welcomed!
 

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