Collected Crepe Myrtle

boristhebadseed · Post by **boristhebadseed** » December 17th, 2020, 8:40 am

My lovely neighbours have offered me this lovely Crepe myrtle that they wish to have removed. I have a small window of opportunity.

My plan us to:

1. Remove all of the extended branches and foliage.

2. Dig a ring as far out to the foliage line as possible (without disturbing their other garden plants), and under the tree as best as possible, keeping as much root as possible.

3. Place in a large pot of fresh potting mix, water with Seasol for root health and leave in a shaded location for a few months before checking root regeneration.

I have had success with this technique collecting radiate pines in Summer, but not with a large Lilly Pilly.

Questions.

1. Is it an acceptable time to collect this tree? I may miss the opportunity otherwise.

2. Is my plan sound? or is there a better way.

The temperatures here in this part of rural Vic are varying from 20 - 30 degrees at the moment.

Thank you in advance, for all advice recieved.

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RogerW · Post by **RogerW** » December 17th, 2020, 9:00 am

Personally I would not hesitate. Your plan is sound.

Roger

delisea · Post by **delisea** » December 17th, 2020, 2:09 pm

Hey Boris,

These guys are very amenable to digging, and this time of year is fine. In my experience you can be pretty brutal. One issue is they don't heal large wounds easily or quickly. Keep this in mind when cutting branches. Angle cuts so you can't see them from the front and try and avoid cutting the largest branches.
Cheers,
Symon

shibui · Post by **shibui** » December 17th, 2020, 6:39 pm

I would also be happy to make an attempt on crepe myrtle any time of year.
You are welcome to dig long roots but I don't think it is necessary. Whenever I have dig crepe myrtle I reduce roots quite hard because eventually the roots will need to be shortened to fit into a bonsai pot. IMHO it is better to do that right at the start when you are also reducing all the branches.
I do not worry too much about where to cut the trunks. New shoots will grow from bare trunks but most shoots will grow near the top after you cut so make sure you chop low enough to get new shoots in desirable locations. When those new shoots are growing well and are strong the trunks can then be reduced to take advantage of the best new shoots.

boristhebadseed · Post by **boristhebadseed** » December 17th, 2020, 7:52 pm

Thanks again to everybody for your advice and encouragement. I will set out tomorrow and collect the tree and I will try to post pics and updates.

To all I wish you a very Merry Christmas and I look forward to corresponding again in the new year.

Earlo

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Beano · Post by **Beano** » December 17th, 2020, 9:25 pm

I find they heal large cuts quite well and quickly. I’ve had callus rolling over a large crepe cut in 5 days before. I also agree now is the time to reduce the roots hard. You can successfully propagate a large diameter crepe cutting so they are pretty hardy with root reduction.

Don’t be scared to cut the branches short too, as shibui says, they don’t really die back if you seal the ends and will send out many buds from close to the cut end.

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boristhebadseed · Post by **boristhebadseed** » December 18th, 2020, 1:34 pm

Well tree collection is done... I was very surprised to find that in addition to the thick roots, which I cut, it had a dense mat of feeder roots directly underneath the trunk. All foliage removed and branches cut right back. I have given weak seasol solution to encourage root regenerztion and have placed in a shaded location. Hopefully it does well in the coming years...
Neighbours are very happy to have it removed.

Again thank you all for the helpful advice and encouragement..

Earlo

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nozila · Post by **nozila** » December 18th, 2020, 2:27 pm

Just curious, Im in SA. Would digging a crepe myrtle this time of year for me be ok as well?

BirchMan · Post by **BirchMan** » December 18th, 2020, 4:39 pm

Hi Nozila, I dug a big one up in Perth in January just gone so you should be alright. I'll make a thread for it one day.

nozila · Post by **nozila** » December 18th, 2020, 8:20 pm

Thanks for the reply. I have a big one that on offer. Im just not sure if its ok and now more importantly, how much rootball I need.

melbrackstone · Post by **melbrackstone** » December 19th, 2020, 7:12 am

All the roots you cut also work as extra cuttings. Your neighbours may have to poison the shoots that appear in a couple of weeks to make sure they don't end up with 15 - 20 new crepe myrtles in their front yard. They're very hardy!

nozila · Post by **nozila** » December 27th, 2020, 12:37 pm

I think I’ve bit off more than I can chew. Perhaps I can take root cutting and hope they grow?

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nozila · Post by **nozila** » December 27th, 2020, 12:45 pm

my shoe (size 8) for reference of its roots near the surface

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boristhebadseed · Post by **boristhebadseed** » December 29th, 2020, 9:45 am

nozila wrote:

my shoe (size 8) for reference of its roots near the surface

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Wow, that's huge... I found when digging mine that the majority of the feeder roots were clumped like a mat at the base of the trunk, with large tap roots extendind out. In this way I was able to keep much of the feeder roots, compared to the pines I have collected and had very little initial feeders. Mine lifted quite easily and quickly with the assistance of my awesome neighbour and was not deeply rooted. Good luck with it, you're going to need a huge pot.

Awesome potential though..

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nozila · Post by **nozila** » December 29th, 2020, 9:47 am

My intentions is to use it as a base for all my air layering then when it’s reduced to a stump, that stump will be a bonsai on its own.

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AusBonsai