Improving rubbish stock.

[Asus101]

I unfortunatly paid for this a while back, its a dwarf form crepe myrtle. It had some wind an heat damage on the leaves from the hottest week in summer.

I have spent a great deal of time wondering how to improve it, and had been coming up against a brick wall.

I could cut it all the way back, and start again, but that's not fun... Still its a good last resort.

I could cut the long branch off and shorten the last two, but it still is taperless, and those branches are not in desirable position.

I could turn it into a raft. I would need to wire some of the cascading branches up so the sit flush, this would mean some wire damage, but nothing that would be too visible.With all the branches coming from the same line, it would lend itself well. As it is, there is a size difference in the branches as it goes down the branches, so it would fit.

I could remove the top two branches and re-pot at an angle to create a cascade, but the long branch is boring and long and impossible to add movement without cutting it to nothing and restarting.

I really like the raft, there is a Peter Adams drawing of one in a bonsai focus edition that I really like, so maybe its a good chance to give it ago. What's others thoughts?

[Bretts]

Have you thought of cutting of all the branches and going for a broom. Maybe the leaves are to big for a mini?

[Asus101]

the species doesnt suit a broom and the leaves would be a bit too big for a broom of that size.

[Milehigh_7]

the species doesnt suit a broom and the leaves would be a bit too big for a broom of that size.

Not sure I agree about its unsuitability for broom. That is the natural growth habit of the tree and one of the things I love about them.


Here is a crappy pic I just took with my phone:

[Asus101]

We have a lot of dwarf crepes that are all clump form. but I shall keep in mind.