Dwarf Crepe Myrtle

[jezz_39]

Picked up this dwarf specimen earlier last year for its interesting base. Nice and twisted and had formed a natural triple trunk raft.
It was marked as Crepe Myrtle 'Covergirl' with no tag, so unsure of the variety though as I've found out, has pink flowers.

I only have 1 photo when I bought it, which isn't the greatest but you get the general idea. The base interested me, but the rest of the tree was very leggy and boring.
Ive since cut it back and addressed the reverse taper through a small bit of carving.
I'll include a rough virt of where I see it heading at this stage, though I welcome suggestions and opinions on further styling. Im considering doing away with the thinnest trunk on the left and just having a twin trunk leaning to the right Not jumping into anything yet though.
It will be repotted into a shallow pot prior to bud swell so I can have a decent look at the rooot system and address any problems there.

I apologise if the photos aren't up to standard, I realise its difficult to see the trunk line with those secondaries coming off the sacrifice branches.
I nicer pic will follow come winter.

Any thoughts on where I should be heading with this one?

Regards,
Jeremy

[Damian Bee]

Nahhhh....

Best you put it in the post and send it to me. I will throw it out (yeah right).

That is a great Crepe myrtle Jezz. Love where it is going (in the post to me )
Gives me some inspiration.

I am not sure that you should repot it at this time of year

[jezz_39]

It will be repotted into a shallow pot prior to bud swell so I can have a decent look at the rooot system and address any problems there.

In late winter, of course

Glad you like so far Damian, still a way to go yet but I should have the basic structure set by leaf drop. Then next year I can start a little refinement. This guy grows so fast. Theres still 2 left at the nursery, not as interesting as this one but may end up coming home...would need to find some room first, though

[jezz_39]

18 months has passed and time for an update
This went into a colander last winter and grew very strongly throughout the warmer months. At repotting time I found another angle to pursue. I felt the original design would end up with a canopy too large for the reasonably thin trunks and wanted to keep things in proportion. The new angle I feel is more dynamic and will look better with a few more seasons of fine growth.
Ive just trimmed back to closer buds and gotten rid of branches in wrong areas. The thick branch shooting to the right is a sacrifice and will be removed next season.

Only a small amount of wire on this one, im employing mainly clip and grow as lignified branches are brittle