crepe myrtle dig

[kcpoole]

so I got the murrayas out. Also got 2 freebies - a crypt Myrtle (she actually did have one) and an apricot stump (would have been a tree but trunk was too long). any idea where I should cut the branches on the murrayas and could the apricot stump eventuate into a pre bonsai?




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re the Murrayas and where to cut, look where the straight sections are and branches.
Cut back to an existing Branch to achieve taper and movement in them as they take ages to put on girth so use what you can
The one on the left. keep the long large trunk, cut back to smaller branch so you get taper. Once it reshoots, build branching by wiring out from the trunk as they want to head upward.

The one on the right keep as a twin trunk with one trunk shorter than the other.
when you chop, Leave a little stump initailly longer, and then trim back flat and clean up after they reshoot.

they will readily shoot on old wood so you can get new branches and wire in the first year to set them in shape, once lignified they are hard as nails and you just cannot bend them.

Ken

[nozila]

so I got the murrayas out. Also got 2 freebies - a crypt Myrtle (she actually did have one) and an apricot stump (would have been a tree but trunk was too long). any idea where I should cut the branches on the murrayas and could the apricot stump eventuate into a pre bonsai?




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

re the Murrayas and where to cut, look where the straight sections are and branches.
Cut back to an existing Branch to achieve taper and movement in them as they take ages to put on girth so use what you can
The one on the left. keep the long large trunk, cut back to smaller branch so you get taper. Once it reshoots, build branching by wiring out from the trunk as they want to head upward.

The one on the right keep as a twin trunk with one trunk shorter than the other.
when you chop, Leave a little stump initailly longer, and then trim back flat and clean up after they reshoot.

they will readily shoot on old wood so you can get new branches and wire in the first year to set them in shape, once lignified they are hard as nails and you just cannot bend them.

Ken

Thank you


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[BlamJams]

I'm not seeing a crepe myrtle in there. That tall skinny thing doesn't look like any CM that I've seen, but I could be mistaken. Looks like a seedling plum to me.

[greg27]

I'm not seeing a crepe myrtle in there. That tall skinny thing doesn't look like any CM that I've seen, but I could be mistaken. Looks like a seedling plum to me.

Yes I'm thinking prunus for that one, looks like the wrong colour and texture for crepe myrtle

[KIRKY]

Are you sure that straight stick is a crepe myrtle? Bark looks wrong to be more plum or cherry but more plum I think.
Good luck with them.
Cheers
Kirky

[nozila]

I could be wrong as well - the landscaper would help me did it out said it was. However crepe myrtle or not, how far back should I cut it? The guy chopped it there for me.


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[KIRKY]

Personally I’d wait and see what you’ve got then decide where to cut and what style.
Cheers
Kirky

[shibui]

Not sure about that landscaper. Definitely not a plant person

It has plenty of nodes still visible on the trunk and that usually indicates ability to sprout new shoots.
I would cut at least half of the current height.
It is good to wait and see what shoots emerge but on longer trunks the shoots tend to sprout from the top 2/3 which will be of limited use for bonsai on such a tall trunk

[nozila]

Lol same landscaper who told the seller the murraya was a Myrtle. Anyways, I agree. It so long and I think a chop clearly needs to be made just not sure if close to the base or a tad higher.


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