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05-10-2015, 09:57 AM
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Location: Jersey City
6,604 posts, read 16,675,424 times
Reputation: 5873
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Hi all,
I'm growing a crape myrtle in a container on my balcony. It's a few years old and about 3' tall. I'm in NJ (USDA Zone 7B). We had an unusually cold winter so I'm worried about the health of the tree, which is hardy to zone 6, but with the cold winter and being in a container I have to discount the hardiness.
Today (May 10) there's still no sign of budding/leafing. It looks just as dormant as it did in January. Last year it started showing signs of life by about mid-April. I've scratched the trunk near the base of the tree and there is green (life) still in the tree, but most of the branches are dry twigs. I did not prune the tree this year.
Just wondering if other crapy myrtle growers in the Northeast are experiencing the same slow recovery, and if there is anything I can do at this point to help the tree along.
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05-10-2015, 03:30 PM
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Location: Long Island/NYC
11,336 posts, read 17,701,522 times
Reputation: 6116
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The crape myrtles I've seen here (Long Island) are just now beginning to leaf out, I noticed small leaves on them today. I thought they were dead.
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05-10-2015, 03:53 PM
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1,648 posts, read 1,093,714 times
Reputation: 2542
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Ours are just starting to bloom. They're so pretty. They're pink...
* the central valley in california.
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05-10-2015, 05:36 PM
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Location: Baltimore, MD
3,955 posts, read 4,449,075 times
Reputation: 7329
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Just beginning to leaf out, although it also looks like I may have lost quite a few branches.
Zone 7A
Last edited by lenora; 05-10-2015 at 05:39 PM..
Reason: added zone
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05-10-2015, 06:22 PM
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Location: Former LI'er Now Rehoboth Beach, DE
8,620 posts, read 11,508,759 times
Reputation: 9211
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Crapes can survive even tough winters give it a little more time. Once they start to leaf simply cut off all the dead branches. We have a neighbor who commits crape murder every year and takes the branches all the way back to the trunk. They bloom every year.
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05-10-2015, 09:06 PM
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Location: Jersey City
6,604 posts, read 16,675,424 times
Reputation: 5873
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Thanks guys. Looks like a slow start for many this year. I'll give it more time.
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05-11-2015, 02:17 PM
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3,763 posts, read 11,004,771 times
Reputation: 6760
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Just noticed shoots (at the ground) on ours this weekend. Cinci (zone 6b, I believe). They always die back to the ground (they're still quite small, 2-3 feet) but even with the unpleasat winter, all 4 are (finally!) showing signs of life.
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05-11-2015, 06:40 PM
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Location: Northeast Tennessee
7,305 posts, read 24,082,211 times
Reputation: 5496
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lammius
Hi all,
I'm growing a crape myrtle in a container on my balcony. It's a few years old and about 3' tall. I'm in NJ (USDA Zone 7B). We had an unusually cold winter so I'm worried about the health of the tree, which is hardy to zone 6, but with the cold winter and being in a container I have to discount the hardiness.
Today (May 10) there's still no sign of budding/leafing. It looks just as dormant as it did in January. Last year it started showing signs of life by about mid-April. I've scratched the trunk near the base of the tree and there is green (life) still in the tree, but most of the branches are dry twigs. I did not prune the tree this year.
Just wondering if other crapy myrtle growers in the Northeast are experiencing the same slow recovery, and if there is anything I can do at this point to help the tree along.
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I would give it more time. My Crape Myrtles were very late this year, even here in NE Tennessee. My were rated zone 7a which is the zone I am in. Some around town came out quicker, some are still waiting and some are just shooting new sprigs out of the ground. One of mine (the larger one) just came out this week with highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s. It may take a few hot days to bring it out. All of our trees are full, it is only the crapes taking their time.
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