Crepe Myrtle planning

[lackhand]

My neighbor just informed me that he wants the crepe myrtle in his front yard gone. He told me I could have my way with it and he would even help with digging, but he's also in no big hurry so there is time for layers. Since it's currently "winter" here and the tree just went dormant, I thought I would post my plan and see if it makes sense to those who have experience with the species as I have none. I have read some threads and the wiki, just wanted to gather a few thoughts too. This way I can make sure I have the plan and methods right and all materials gathered and ready when the time is right.

Prune back fairly hard now while dormant.
At bud swell, set several air layers, and take a few big cuttings at the same time.
Once layers have set, remove them and dig the stump.

I know this might not be best for the stump, but it's one of the nursery classics with a pole of a trunk for about 1.5 - 2 meters before any branching. I plan to layer off the whole top, which should work well since the trunk up there is almost as thick as the base. So then if the stump survives, it will just be a bonus tree at that point. Please share any thoughts you might have.

I'll try to grab a photo soon and post it.

[kcpoole]

I collected several years ago.
Dug them in winter and did not get much root but they are doing real good.

Can you dig in winter and airlayer later?

Ken

[GavinG]

I would tend to dig when it is leafless for safety, then air layer when there are signs of good recovery. Might be slower, but you will have the tree in your yard, to look after the layers personally. I'd be a bit nervous to dig mid-summer, after the layers have taken.

They are well worth the trouble, should be more of them. Ground-grow the layers for a few years, to develop a complicated trunk.

Best of luck.

Gavin

[shibui]

Now that it is dormant is a good time to take hardwood cuttings so my alternative plan would be:
Cut back hard in mid - late winter, use some of the prunings for large cuttings and dig remaining trunk. Layer the top next spring after new shoots have hardened. I think a crepe myrtle should be able to handle transplant and layers in the same year and your climate should help.

[lackhand]

Thanks for all the input. I appreciate and will follow the advice, so dig first and then layers and cuttings later. My neighbor says it usually leafs out around March or April so I think I'll leave it be for a few months and dig in late February or so depending on weather. Lots of time to find/make an adequate container for the beast.

[lackhand]

Today was the day.

IMG_2932.jpg

It's a bit bigger than I thought. Hope I'm not in over my head.

[raewynk]

Nothing like a challenge.

Like to see the results on the progress, will be interesting.
Lots of pictures on the journey through the progression would be great.

Regards
Rae

[Jason]

Today was the day.

IMG_2932.jpg

It's a bit bigger than I thought. Hope I'm not in over my head.

You're going to need a ladder to set air layers on that beast

Can't wait till I dig my first tree, looks like you have a lot of fun ahead mate... and a bit of hard work too

[lackhand]

The crepe myrtle is alive and well, has been leafed out for several weeks now. I suppose it could still be stored energy, but it's growing strong enough I doubt it. So the next question is, how long to wait until air layering? It sure would be nice to get this down to several manageably sized trees sooner rather than later, but one big live tree is better than nicely sized dead ones.

IMG_3045.jpg

I know the pic from below is strange, but those branches are over my head, so . . .

[Boics]

After leaves have hardened of is ideal I reckon.
Reason I say this is I've attempted layers shortly after bud burst and with little juice running found the cambium much more difficult to separate.

I assume it's spring over there now?
If so my vote is get involved!

[kcpoole]

2 months or so after digging should be good to layer off some

Ken

[lackhand]

Thanks Ken and Boics, I think I'll give it a few more weeks and then get to work. It is spring here, and it looks like my dig was timed perfectly. Hasn't missed a beat.

[Drac0]

Sorry for this slight hijack:

Have one I'm planning on digging & just want to check if I'm going to be doing things the right way.

1. Wait until dormant (around June/July).
2. Cut the top back to workable size - will use these for hardwood cuttings.
3. Once buds begin to swell, dig & transplant. This is so at least some of the energy from the roots I'll lose will be in the trunks helping with new growth.

Step 3 is really where I'm wondering - should I dig while dormant or wait for bud swell?

This is one that the owner was deliberately trying to kill & for a number of years it looked like they had succeeded. But last spring it decided to show it's hand by sending out new shoots. I was asked for advice to kill it fully but convinced them to leave it & let me rescue it.

Cheers,

[kcpoole]

I dug 3 during winter while dormant, bare rooted and root pruned, shot out like mad

[Drac0]

I dug 3 during winter while dormant, bare rooted and root pruned, shot out like mad

No problems then, I'll do it all at once in June or July. Even if the main plant fails there's always the hardwood cuttings.