Crepe Myrtle and a beaver...dam
 

I bought a 6+ foot Crepe Myrtle and planted it in the fall of '03. It
bloomed well last summer and I trimmed it back this spring. Well, a beaver
decided I didn't trim enough, and cut 4 of the 5 main trunks back to about 1
foot - three while we were on vacation, the other 2 nights ago. I expect
the 5th to go any day now.

I really don't want a Crepe Myrtle shrub; what do I do? Will trimming all
but one leader on each trunk eventually get it back to a fairly normal
shape? Should I cut it to the ground?

I didn't know the beavers were still around Bond Lake, but the teeth marks
are pretty unmistakable.

"Beth Peace" wrote in message
.net...
I bought a 6+ foot Crepe Myrtle and planted it in the fall of '03. It
bloomed well last summer and I trimmed it back this spring. Well, a
beaver
decided I didn't trim enough, and cut 4 of the 5 main trunks back to
about 1
foot - three while we were on vacation, the other 2 nights ago. I
expect
the 5th to go any day now.

I really don't want a Crepe Myrtle shrub; what do I do? Will trimming
all
but one leader on each trunk eventually get it back to a fairly normal
shape? Should I cut it to the ground?

I didn't know the beavers were still around Bond Lake, but the teeth
marks
are pretty unmistakable.


Same problem here, not a beaver, just an eager husband with a new
chainsaw. :)


Jo

On 2005-04-04, Beth Peace wrote:
I bought a 6+ foot Crepe Myrtle and planted it in the fall of '03. It
bloomed well last summer and I trimmed it back this spring. Well, a beaver
decided I didn't trim enough, and cut 4 of the 5 main trunks back to about 1
foot - three while we were on vacation, the other 2 nights ago. I expect
the 5th to go any day now.

I really don't want a Crepe Myrtle shrub; what do I do? Will trimming all
but one leader on each trunk eventually get it back to a fairly normal
shape? Should I cut it to the ground?

I didn't know the beavers were still around Bond Lake, but the teeth marks
are pretty unmistakable.



It might work but it will take time. You can protect the remaining one
with hardware 1/4 or 1/2 inch grid by putting it around the tree
probably 2-3 feet high.

You may want to call animal control and see if they can trap it. This
may be a new one just wandering for new land.


--
Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please.

is a garbage address.

You can protect the remaining one
with hardware 1/4 or 1/2 inch grid by putting it around the tree
probably 2-3 feet high.
You may want to call animal control and see if they can trap it. This
may be a new one just wandering for new land.
Wes Dukes (wdukes.pobox@com) Swap the . and the @ to email me please.

I think they will only kill beaver, not trap and relocate (depending
on your county). If you go the kill route, please be sure they use
the instantaneous "humane" method, and not the hour long drowning
method (they can hold breath, struggling, for 20 minutes).
Anyway, I have successfully saved all the trees I managed to get to
before THEY did, by simply making a ring of 4 ft. width chickenwire,
with a few inches play for tree growth. I nailed it to the root, so
they couldn't hike it up with their noses. It is still working 9
years later.
Kira