I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and for
various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and despite
frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and occationally
put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and eventually they
are showing some life again at the top branches.

I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really prune
them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and let them
establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do this? Late
fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?

-- David

Why in the world did you buy Crepe Myrtles if you are going to prune them
down low. We have a saying around here for people that love to prune these
beauties... Crepe Murder. Let them grow and put them in a spot where they
can reach their magestic height and beauty. Just drive down Glenwood Ave
from Crabtree Mall to Wade Ave. to see the full beauty these fine trees..
not bushes.. can achieve.


"ElectricLandlady" wrote in message
news

I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and for
various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and despite
frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and occationally
put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and eventually they
are showing some life again at the top branches.

I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really prune
them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and let them
establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do this? Late
fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?

-- David

Oh, Bud, be a sport! -- David did not say he *intended* to prune the Crepe
Myrtles low, just that he did not get them planted when he had intended
o -- and I bet he is not the only one who has ever found himself in that
situation!

David, for starters, I'd get them in the ground -- after all, you will
have to water them whether you plant them or not! Why don't you ask for
advice where you purchased them? (As long as you make it clear you don't
blame the trees' condition on the garden center.)

Good luck!

Anne Lurie
NE Raleigh


"bud" wrote in message
ink.net...
Why in the world did you buy Crepe Myrtles if you are going to prune them
down low. We have a saying around here for people that love to prune
these beauties... Crepe Murder. Let them grow and put them in a spot
where they can reach their magestic height and beauty. Just drive down
Glenwood Ave from Crabtree Mall to Wade Ave. to see the full beauty these
fine trees.. not bushes.. can achieve.


"ElectricLandlady" wrote in message
news

I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and for
various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and despite
frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and occationally
put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and eventually they
are showing some life again at the top branches.

I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really prune
them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and let them
establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do this? Late
fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?

-- David

I agree with Bud, crepe rape is brutal and unnecessary. Plant
them, see how they do before you start planning on pruning.
Raleighgirl
"bud" wrote in message
ink.net...
| Why in the world did you buy Crepe Myrtles if you are going to
prune them
| down low. We have a saying around here for people that love to
prune these
| beauties... Crepe Murder. Let them grow and put them in a
spot where they
| can reach their magestic height and beauty. Just drive down
Glenwood Ave
| from Crabtree Mall to Wade Ave. to see the full beauty these
fine trees..
| not bushes.. can achieve.
|
|
| "ElectricLandlady" wrote in message
| news |
| I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and
for
| various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and
despite
| frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
| Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and
occationally
| put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and
eventually they
| are showing some life again at the top branches.
|
| I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really
prune
| them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and
let them
| establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do
this? Late
| fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?
|
| -- David
|
|

Ann, thank you for actually reading my post before commenting (unlike
others who maybe have a habit to talk without listening).
Fortunately for price, but unfortunately for follow-up/advice, I
bought them at Broadwells in Angier. I'm hoping an expert gardener in
the group could help....

On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 20:45:31 GMT, "Anne Lurie"
wrote:

Oh, Bud, be a sport! -- David did not say he *intended* to prune the Crepe
Myrtles low, just that he did not get them planted when he had intended
o -- and I bet he is not the only one who has ever found himself in that
situation!

David, for starters, I'd get them in the ground -- after all, you will
have to water them whether you plant them or not! Why don't you ask for
advice where you purchased them? (As long as you make it clear you don't
blame the trees' condition on the garden center.)

Good luck!

Anne Lurie
NE Raleigh


"bud" wrote in message
link.net...
Why in the world did you buy Crepe Myrtles if you are going to prune them
down low. We have a saying around here for people that love to prune
these beauties... Crepe Murder. Let them grow and put them in a spot
where they can reach their magestic height and beauty. Just drive down
Glenwood Ave from Crabtree Mall to Wade Ave. to see the full beauty these
fine trees.. not bushes.. can achieve.


"ElectricLandlady" wrote in message
news

I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and for
various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and despite
frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and occationally
put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and eventually they
are showing some life again at the top branches.

I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really prune
them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and let them
establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do this? Late
fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?

-- David

ElectricLandlady wrote:

Ann, thank you for actually reading my post before commenting (unlike
others who maybe have a habit to talk without listening).
Fortunately for price, but unfortunately for follow-up/advice, I
bought them at Broadwells in Angier. I'm hoping an expert gardener in
the group could help....
You asked for help and now you're giving attitude to those who have
offered it? It doesn't take an "expert gardener" to answer your post.
As others have said, get them in the ground. You didn't say if you've
already done this or not. If there are some branches that you know are
dead, prune them now. If you think they are not dead, leave them for a
few months. If they don't send out leaves within a month or two, they
are dead.

On 2005-07-04, ElectricLandlady wrote:

I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and for
various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and despite
frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and occationally
put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and eventually they
are showing some life again at the top branches.

I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really prune
them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and let them
establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do this? Late
fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?


It sounds like you don't really know what is dead and what is alive
now. If they don't have much leaves then they are not losing water.
Just let them grow as they are and remove only the dead stuff when you
are sure it is dead. If they have not leaved out by September then you
can assume those limbs are dead.
-- David


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

is a garbage address.

On 2005-07-04, Anne Lurie wrote:
Oh, Bud, be a sport! -- David did not say he *intended* to prune the Crepe
Myrtles low, just that he did not get them planted when he had intended
o -- and I bet he is not the only one who has ever found himself in that
situation!

David, for starters, I'd get them in the ground -- after all, you will

I missed the part about not being planted yet. Yes, get them in the
ground!!!! Worry about pruning in September when you will know what is
dead and what is alive.

have to water them whether you plant them or not! Why don't you ask for
advice where you purchased them? (As long as you make it clear you don't
blame the trees' condition on the garden center.)

Good luck!

Anne Lurie
NE Raleigh


"bud" wrote in message
ink.net...
Why in the world did you buy Crepe Myrtles if you are going to prune them
down low. We have a saying around here for people that love to prune
these beauties... Crepe Murder. Let them grow and put them in a spot
where they can reach their magestic height and beauty. Just drive down
Glenwood Ave from Crabtree Mall to Wade Ave. to see the full beauty these
fine trees.. not bushes.. can achieve.


"ElectricLandlady" wrote in message
news

I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and for
various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and despite
frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and occationally
put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and eventually they
are showing some life again at the top branches.

I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really prune
them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and let them
establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do this? Late
fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?

-- David






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

is a garbage address.

On 2005-07-05, ElectricLandlady wrote:
Ann, thank you for actually reading my post before commenting (unlike
others who maybe have a habit to talk without listening).
Fortunately for price, but unfortunately for follow-up/advice, I

This is USENET if you want help you gotta sometimes listen to opinions
the may be a bit testy.

But the consensus from everyone that posted is plant, water, and wait.

EXPERT? Chuckle. Ex means former spurt is just a drip under pressure
so an expert is just a former drip under pressure. :-)

We all dig in the dirt and get things to grow, but we all make mistakes
and need help too.

Happy gardening. If those Crepe Myrtles are leafing out I think they
will live just fine assuming you water them. Remember deep slow water
once per week not shallow water every day.
bought them at Broadwells in Angier. I'm hoping an expert gardener in
the group could help....

On Mon, 04 Jul 2005 20:45:31 GMT, "Anne Lurie"
wrote:

Oh, Bud, be a sport! -- David did not say he *intended* to prune the Crepe
Myrtles low, just that he did not get them planted when he had intended
o -- and I bet he is not the only one who has ever found himself in that
situation!

David, for starters, I'd get them in the ground -- after all, you will
have to water them whether you plant them or not! Why don't you ask for
advice where you purchased them? (As long as you make it clear you don't
blame the trees' condition on the garden center.)

Good luck!

Anne Lurie
NE Raleigh


"bud" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Why in the world did you buy Crepe Myrtles if you are going to prune them
down low. We have a saying around here for people that love to prune
these beauties... Crepe Murder. Let them grow and put them in a spot
where they can reach their magestic height and beauty. Just drive down
Glenwood Ave from Crabtree Mall to Wade Ave. to see the full beauty these
fine trees.. not bushes.. can achieve.


"ElectricLandlady" wrote in message
news
I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and for
various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and despite
frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and occationally
put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and eventually they
are showing some life again at the top branches.

I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really prune
them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and let them
establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do this? Late
fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?

-- David






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

is a garbage address.

No we leave that job to my husband... LOL Definate Crepe Murdlerer...
hehehehehhehe



Jo



"Anne Lurie" wrote in message
. com...
Oh, Bud, be a sport! -- David did not say he *intended* to prune the
Crepe
Myrtles low, just that he did not get them planted when he had intended
o -- and I bet he is not the only one who has ever found himself in
that
situation!

David, for starters, I'd get them in the ground -- after all, you will
have to water them whether you plant them or not! Why don't you ask for
advice where you purchased them? (As long as you make it clear you
don't
blame the trees' condition on the garden center.)

Good luck!

Anne Lurie
NE Raleigh


"bud" wrote in message
ink.net...
Why in the world did you buy Crepe Myrtles if you are going to prune
them
down low. We have a saying around here for people that love to prune
these beauties... Crepe Murder. Let them grow and put them in a spot
where they can reach their magestic height and beauty. Just drive
down
Glenwood Ave from Crabtree Mall to Wade Ave. to see the full beauty
these
fine trees.. not bushes.. can achieve.


"ElectricLandlady" wrote in message
news

I bought two 8 foot B&B crepe myrtles several weeks ago, and for
various reasons they didn't get put in the ground, and despite
frequent watering they dried up and died. Or so I thought...
Not one to give up so easily, I kept watering them and occationally
put some composted manure on top of the burlap, and eventually they
are showing some life again at the top branches.

I figure that if they stay alive, I'm going to have to really prune
them down low eventually to get rid of the dead branches and let them
establish a reasonable shape. When is a good time to do this? Late
fall? Or should I wait until Feb/Mar or so...?

-- David