Large Crepe Myrtle

[FlyBri]

Gday folks!

When I arrived home on Thursday evening, I was greeted by this monster. I haven't had much of a chance to assess where to go with it, but the longest trunk was removed by MattA for ease of posting, and I have hacked off the odd root here and there. I am considering chopping the frontal (leafless) trunk back to the base, thus opening up the tree and enhancing the appearance of some taper.

Please excuse the photos...

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_0911_06.jpg

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_0911_07.jpg

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_0911_08.jpg

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_0911_09.jpg

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_0911_05.jpg

Check back in 100 years for progress...

Thanks.

Fly.

PS: A big thanks again to MattA for his efforts in getting this tree to me - I hope to do his efforts justice!

[MattA]

Mate you have already done my efforts justice... I was thinking firewood

[FlyBri]

Gday Matt!

What do you think of something like THIS as a future direction? (You may need to register to see the pics.) MONSTER-SUMO-BROOM -STYLE!!!

Thanks mate!

Fly.

[FlyBri]

I am considering chopping the frontal (leafless) trunk back to the base, thus opening up the tree and enhancing the appearance of some taper.

...and so I did. I wonder if I shouldn't have chopped back harder on the other trunks...

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_1011_01.jpg

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_1011_02.jpg

Sorry about the quality of the photos - they came from my phone, and the monster stump is too heavy for me to lug to my usual photo spot.

Thanks!

Fly.

[Webos]

Mate, if you find a way to induce strong backbudding on these things, let me know... I've found them to be very unpredictable. Mine seems to want to either shoot suckers from the roots or from new growth at the top...nothing inbetween. My advice would be to hang onto any low growing shoots and develop from there.

[FlyBri]

I've found them to be very unpredictable. Mine seems to want to either shoot suckers from the roots or from new growth at the top...nothing inbetween.

Gday Adam!

If you are getting lots of suckers and no budding on the trunk, I would be inclined to use the suckers to create threadgrafts where you want branches to grow.

It's still a little early to tell how this one will react to my treatment, but I'll be keeping an eye out for suckers.

Thanks!

Fly.

[MattA]

McFly.... Alot of work yet to do, but you have made more start than I.

Mate, if you find a way to induce strong backbudding on these things, let me know... I've found them to be very unpredictable. Mine seems to want to either shoot suckers from the roots or from new growth at the top...nothing inbetween. My advice would be to hang onto any low growing shoots and develop from there.

Hard pruning just after leaf drop will sometimes encourage back budding lower down on a trunk.

[kcpoole]

Nice fly
Maybe cuth the right hand stump back to the branch base you have there.

Ken

[FlyBri]

Maybe cuth the right hand stump back to the branch base you have there.

Gday Ken!

I presume that you mean something like this:

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_1011_03.jpg

I have been considering doing exactly that, as that section of trunk is a little straight and boring. I am wary of chopping it back now, as there are no buds present down there. I don't want to cause any more die-back than I need to...

Matt - thanks for the info!

Thanks.

Fly.

[Steven]

That's a thumping stump Mr Fly
What is the black stuff in your mix?

Regards,
Steven

[FlyBri]

What is the black stuff in your mix?

Gday Mr Steven!

This mix is a composite of sifted potting mix, Chandler's kitty litter, granitic sand and blue metal chips. In this photo, the 'black stuff' is most likely the blue metal (basalt, bluestone). The other 'black stuff' in the photo is the water-based bitumen that I have used to seal the wounds at the chop points.

Thanks!

Fly.

[kcpoole]

Yes Fly that was the idea

Ken

[FlyBri]

Gday folks!

Finally got a bit of time up my sleeve, so I thought I'd show this rather ordinary pic of my monster Crepe Myrtle. I haven't done anything to it since the repot, except to remove the low, sucker-like branches at the left. I think I might let it keep going strong this year, and maybe I'll get some flowers...

Large_Crepe_Myrtle_1211_01.jpg

Peace.

Fly.

[bodhidharma]

That is coming along nicely Mr Fly. The trunk and the texture and colour of the bark make it a worthwhile project on their own. Looking forward to its flowering. I also have had a large one for four years and have yet to see a flower. I hope you have better success.

[FlyBri]

I also have had a large one for four years and have yet to see a flower. I hope you have better success.

Thanks Bodhi! The CMs in my garden are putting on flower buds as we speak, but there are no buds on my captive specimen. It's possible that all the rootwork Matt & I did will prevent it from flowering this year.

Fly.