|
| Hello all, I am in need of info on growing crape myrtle in my area. I've waited a year to add CM to my yard and I'm going tomorrow to pick up my tree/shrub. What should I know about planting and caring for my new CM? I don't want to spend $60. and end up killing it. I've picked out a very sunny location, but what should I use for additional soil when planting it up? would miracle grow work well? Also can I use compost like straw with chicken manure?(I have chickens)Or would this be to much? Do I even need compost? I am very new to gardening, let alone adding expensive shrubs to my yard so any info would be very useful.
Thanks in advance. Tina in OR. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| - Plant in existing soil in a site with good drainage. - Don't "fix" what you put back into the hole. - After digging the hole, fill with water & let soak in; repeat. - Before setting the tree in the hole, soak (max 20 minutes) the entire rootball by setting in a bucket or tub. - Refill around rootball with existing soil - Settle the soil by watering well - No fertilizer, not even compost or chicken. - Mulch is good; straw is fine - Apply water to the original rootball every day or so during the early months. A tree requires at least two years of supplemental irrigation to establish a sturdy root system. |
|
- Posted by grrrnthumb z8 WA (My Page) on Fri, Aug 20, 10 at 0:14
| I would second what Jean says about not adding to your dirt. I don't know specifically about crape myrtle, but generally heat-loving trees with small leaves come from more nutrient-poor areas, and adding compost & manure could really harm the tree. I'm really jealous of you, wish we could grow them up here in the Seattle area, but we just don't get enough sun. - Tom |
|
| Watering every day could easily be excessive, depending on individual circumstances. Not aware of any relationship between hot summers, small leaves and soil fertility. Crape myrtle is from eastern Asia. Other plants native to that region and used for ornament in other lands often come from deep, moist fertile soils. Likewise many of those from eastern North America. It's really more a function of the kind of tree it is, with different areas having different plants characteristic of different nutrient and moisture levels. A familiar local example of an attractive tree much used in landscaping, that serves as an indicator of moist, fertile soils in nature is the vine maple. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Horticultural techniques for successful plant establishment
|
| To get good bloom from crape myrtle in the PNW you need to plant in the hottest most sunny spot AND choose a variety known to perform here. Not sure every one of all the different ones being ordered by local outlets these days are good choices for us. In Seattle I see occasional long-established ones of some size that flower very little. Particularly up here, ideal spot a south-facing wall with paving in front. |
|
| Tina, I tried a crepe myrtle from one of the box stores last year, and it didn't make it through the winter. After getting a little more educated, I just picked up "Zuni" at a local hardware store for $9, and plan to put it in the hottest spot in my yard, with a lot of reflected heat from the street, driveway, and sidewalk. The National Arboretum has introduced several cultivars (they will have Native American names) that are supposed to have improved disease resistance and better cold tolerance. You might want to do a search and check them out. Crepe myrtles also vary a lot in mature size, so make sure the one you get is appropriate for your location. I don't know if my "Zuni" will make it or not, but as long as it survives I'll be happy with it. Even if it doesn't bloom, they can make lovely small trees, with good fall color, interesting forms, and peeling bark (again, check the cultivar to see how it will behave--the fall colors and peeling bark vary.) If it doesn't make it, I'm only out $9, which seems like a good way to go with a plant that sounds like it's an iffy performer in this area. |
|
| Thank you all for the follow up. Right now I have small one gallon container of Hopi & Tonto crape myrtle that I paid $13. for both are well established in their pots. Both also say that they are hardy to 0 degrees, and the nursery Al's garden center say they do well here in Portland. Today however I am going back to buy a much larger shrub which is Pink Velour. Everyone of these will be planted in Full sun locations. I don't know a lot about my soil here since I'm not much of a gardener, but I will say it seems to be quite rocky, we live next to an area called rocky butte which once upon a time was a volcanic cinder cone. |
|
| Kinds at outlets I visit often have Indian names, implying USNA involvement. But trials and selection will have been undertaken back there, so suitability for us will not have been established by that. Best bet might be to visit plantings at Center for Urban Horticulture, Seattle, at late summer peak flowering time to see what looks good there. Don't know where to look in Portland, might have to just ask at favorite vendors if particular ones on offer have been locally proven. Several kinds being used as street trees in Seattle. Lots of nice hot pavement nearby. |
|
| I think I am inspired to try a crape myrtle. I've always admired them, but had no idea that my inferno yard conditions were suitable. So... my question for all you experts is, do you think one would be okay in a pot on my ridiculously hot patio? It's south-facing with a wall that reflects even more heat, and is typically in the 90s even on cool summer days. If it's a hot day, the patio hits 110 by about eleven. I have a fig in a pot that is very happy there, which is what made me think a crape myrtle might be happy, too. What do you think? |
|
| xantippe I'd say go for it Crape myrtle comes in many varieties I bought a miniature variety which is excellent for containers only grows 2 to 3 feet, but you can also get others for containers that grow 3-6 feet, or even a weeping variety which is small growing. If your in Ptld try Al's garden center in woodburn they have 28 varieties of CM ranging in all sizes & color, prices range from $9.99 to 99.99 and every cm is 25% off. I planted my mini in a pot, as well as my Hopi which will range about 5-10 ft. Good Luck, I am totally in love with crape myrtles. These are heat loving plants so your patio might be just the right spot. Tina |
|
| Thank you, Tin. Yes, indeed, I am in PDX, and have never been to Al's, so what a great excuse for a road trip! Thank you. |
|
| Your welcome, I also want to mention that they have a Al's garden center in Gresham too, not sure what type of cm variety they carry but if you didn't want to travel as far as Woodburn they Likely stock cm too. I went to Woodburn cause I heard they had the most stock, plus it's a large nursery with lots to look at. I also came across this on youtube on growing CM in the NW. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxX2DaPb3-U Good luck with your decision. |
|
- Posted by buyorsell888 Zone 8 Portland OR (My Page) on Wed, Aug 25, 10 at 1:41
| I have had a Zuni crape myrtle for at least a decade. It is a heavy bloomer for me. I do not fertilize it. I tried two of the minatures, can't remember the names and they both died the first winter. Al's in Sherwood is bigger than Woodburn, Gresham is much smaller has more "color" than trees or shrubs. |
|
| Ooh, thanks everyone! I've never been to any Al's. Now I'll have to hit Woodburn, Sherwood and Gresham (but maybe not all this year!). And I can't believe you found that YouTube clip. Amazing! |
|
- Posted by buyorsell888 Zone 8 Portland OR (My Page) on Fri, Aug 27, 10 at 21:55
| Just hit Sherwood, it is their biggest and newest store. It is gorgeous. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Northwestern Gardening Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.