“Crepe Murder”  (How to Ruin a Crepe Myrtle)

By Ms Sherry

This is really sad case of “crepe murder” ; note the beautiful peeling bark, however.

How anyone might think this is a good way to prune is beyond me

A huge crepe myrtle has fallen victim.

This is the worst—the tree never seemed to recover.

Oh my goodness—another landscape crew had been here.

This case of “crepe murder” stood at the corner of a many - storied building where its large size would have been an asset; I watched in horror as the lawn crew chopped it up.

Note the artificial growth pattern after “crepe murder”; instead of branches there are these sort of twiggy sprouts that grow up. The tree’s original shape has vanished.

A beauty!

Another beauty!

Glorious!

A wonderful specimen!

There is no tree that I know that has sustained more well-meaning damage by its owner than the crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemeria). Crepe myrtles come in all sizes from dwarf to 30 feet tall. Pick the right size for your spot, so that this glorious tree will never fall victim to “crepe murder.” What is “crepe murder”? That is pruning the graceful arching limbs into ugly stubs. This practice is carried out by home owners as well as landscaping crews. Not only does “crepe murder” destroy the tree’s natural shape, but it also forces the resulting branches to grow into spindly- looking sprouts that are really not strong enough to hold up the multitude of flowers the tree bears in the summer months. If your crepe myrtle needs a little trimming, remove the top two or three feet with a hand pruner. Pruning out the small inside branches (those about pencil size)  opens up the canopy highlighting the trunk. If you choose to prune your crepe myrtle, do so in late winter as crepe myrtles bloom on new wood and pruning them later than early spring will remove your summer flowers. Crossing or diseased branches should also be removed.  Limbing up a crepe myrtle at least 4 feet exposes the trunks.

To minimize diseases such as powdery mildew, it is important to choose myrtles that are disease-resistant and then plant the tree in the right place – lots of sun and lots of good air circulation.  And, yes, crepe myrtles grow best like most every plant we talk about in fertile, well-drained soil.

Crepe myrtles are a great four-season plant. Fall color is beautiful; the peeling winter bark is stunning; early spring brings lush green foliage and summer time brings the flowers in a wide variety of colors depending on the cultivar you choose. 

Please for the good of the garden, never commit “crepe murder.“

Daffodils

By Ms Sherry

No one has ever said it better than William Wordsworth who admired “a host of golden daffodils . . . fluttering and dancing in the breeze.“

These are some of the first daffodils to bloom. I love each and every one of them. One of the saddest days in the garden is the end of the daffodil blooming season. Please remember to pinch the spent bloom head but leave the foliage until it yellows and withers away. Do not fold, weave or rubber band the foliage either—just let nature take its course. Daffodil bulbs get their energy for the next blooming season from the decaying foliage. Looking at the foliage is not a high price to pay for the glorious flowers. 

Tomato Sprouts

By pbarnett

I recently got an Aerogarden when Williams-Sonoma had a sale, because I was intrigued by them, and wanted fresh basil in the winter. The freezer is full of pesto, but it’s not the same. The Aerogarden is a hydroponic system with lights, timer, and a pump that sends water and nutrients through the planting pods prepared with seeds.. It came with herb pods. However, I was sidetracked by the discovery of the Master Gardening set, which allows you to use your own seeds. It was time to start the tomatoes, anyway. So my Aerogarden is now planted with Brandy Boy, Sungold, Cherokee Purple and Mortgage Lifter tomato sprouts. They were started February 2. This will be an interesting experience, as these are all big indeterminates.

First Daffodils

By pbarnett

I have a few daffodils blooming now at the base of a pecan tree.

My First Crocuses

By Ms Sherry

Hooray! The crocuses are blooming; somehow this dear little flower lets me know I have survived the winter and that spring is not very far away. How many of you have a crocus blooming in your garden today?