Crepe Myrtle

[alpineart]

This is the first training of the tree which my dear mother allowed me to remove from her yard, pictured here on 7/12/2010 with the layers in place

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This morning i decided i had best get into some trainers ,i severed the layers off a couple of weeks ago , this is the trunk removed from the training pot

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Trimmed off the stubs , potted up , wired and shaped for now

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.It would be nice if they were all this easy .Cheers Alpineart

[Sean M]

nice work. What did you use as your layering medium?

[kcpoole]

Nice alpine
Love the bark on Crepe Myrtle

I have 2 at home and they are the only trees I have that have autumn colour on at the moment

ken

[Kyushu Danji]

I wish all species were as easy to layer as crepe myrtle as well. I admire your bravery and skill - multiple layers all at the one time!
I am looking forward to doing more of this in the spring and have been selecting branches/trees and whatnot to attempt, made very easy now the leaves have fallen. When did you start these ones off?
James

[alpineart]

Hi sean.mitchell , i have used red scoria and spagnum moss on all the layers from last season from Black Pine , Japanese Maples , Tridents , NZ tea tree and Crepe myrtle .Cheers Alpineart

[alpineart]

Hi kc , Autumn colour is only beginning here , except for a couple of tree that dropped their leaves .like this one and a couple of garden tree's .Most of the street tree's here are finished however every year my garden seems to be the last to go .Cheers Alpine

[alpineart]

Hi Kyushi Danji , i have had success with multi layers on JBP , Trident Maples , Japanese Maples ,Zelkova's , so i wouldn't hesitate to try multi layers on any other tree that was worthy of a layer . I started these of about the time the first leaves harden off , can't be 100%sure on that as my pics are missing in action .Cheers Alpineart

[Kyushu Danji]

Hi Kyushi Danji , i have had success with multi layers on JBP , Trident Maples , Japanese Maples ,Zelkova's , so i wouldn't hesitate to try multi layers on any other tree that was worthy of a layer . I started these of about the time the first leaves harden off , can't be 100%sure on that as my pics are missing in action .Cheers Alpineart

Interesting. I have found that the crepe myrtle we have doesn't come into leaf until around october...is there a specific reason why you would need to wait until the leaves have actually hardened off, or is it just simply because its a waste of time for the layer to be sat there while the tree is still dormant?

[alpineart]

Hi Kyushi , i find better results after the first leaves have hardened off .I have set Japanese Black pines anytime and find them easier than deciduous .Its all trial and error in every situation .The layers on this Crepe Myrtle weren't impressive by any matter of means as far as roots go , very lax yet some say they can be done in 6-8 weeks .These were on for about 5-6 months , then again its been a very unusual series of seasons up this way .Cheers Alpine

[Kyushu Danji]

Hi Kyushi , i find better results after the first leaves have hardened off .I have set Japanese Black pines anytime and find them easier than deciduous .Its all trial and error in every situation .The layers on this Crepe Myrtle weren't impressive by any matter of means as far as roots go , very lax yet some say they can be done in 6-8 weeks .These were on for about 5-6 months , then again its been a very unusual series of seasons up this way .Cheers Alpine

Thanks for that. I'm surprised you have found pines easier to layer than deciduous! I was under the impression they, along with junipers were more difficult to layer. I am considering trying my luck at layering camellia, tilia cordata, firethorn, alnus, malus and what I think is a fir tree --- you seem knowledgeable about layering, so if you have any specific advice on any of these varieties (even if its dont even bother trying!) I would really appreciate it alpineart.
Looking forward to seeing more of your layers!

James

[alpineart]

Hi Kyushu , mate i try anything and every thing several times and if i doesn't work i change the recipe , timing and procedure . If it works i try it again to make sure . I make notes only i can understand but i do take thousands of pics for a photographic record . I treat all layers the same with a combination of ring bark and wire tourniquet and i only use hormone powder mixed to a paste then applied .Each to their own but this works for me .Cheers Alpineart

[alpineart]

Well i didn't kill so its in for a quick trim

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, then a wire and shape .

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This will set the basic shape of the tree to come , now the growth can begin to shoot vertical hopefully giving a shape in keeping with the trunk movement .Next year it may just call this a bonsai , for now its just another trainer heading back to the benches .

Cheers Alpineart

[Hornet]

looking great, love the trunk like on this one and has came this far in only a short space of time. Should be a ripper in a couple of years

[alpineart]

Hi Hornet , many thanks to the blind old lady i scored it off , my Mother .She planted it and it kept falling over that's how the trunk was produced . The layers taken from the original tree need a trim and style , will get into them soon .

Cheers Alpine

[Pup]

G,day mate, trees with history always make the best they tell a story, and that is what makes them so special.

So when you hand this one down you can tell the story as far as now.

I like this tree the exfoliating bark makes it very interesting.

Cheers Pup