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Made me think...when I had 3 maple trees put in my yard, which is solid clay and rock, they didn't put any soil amendments at all. The trees are doing well, and growing.
All the plants I've planted on my own, over 1,000 I've amended the soil. I usually mix the clay with other soils, depending on what I'm planting.
I never really thought about the maples that were put in, without soil amendments.
I have a couple crepe myrtles. They've grown well, and I definitely amended the soil. My yard is so compacted that when I rains hard, the water just sits on top of areas that are missing grass and puddles for quite a while. It takes quite a long time for it to seep in to the ground.
Ironically, this trees LOVE water,
They just don't like to sit in a hole full of water
Now I have several crape myrtles that I planted and are doing great.[/quote]
It is easy to over water and that is a sure way to kill a true. Often when too dry, you can see a little curl on the yips of the leaves and then know for sure the plant needs to be watered.
Made me think...when I had 3 maple trees put in my yard, which is solid clay and rock, they didn't put any soil amendments at all. The trees are doing well, and growing.
All the plants I've planted on my own, over 1,000 I've amended the soil. I usually mix the clay with other soils, depending on what I'm planting.
I never really thought about the maples that were put in, without soil amendments.
I have a couple crepe myrtles. They've grown well, and I definitely amended the soil. My yard is so compacted that when I rains hard, the water just sits on top of areas that are missing grass and puddles for quite a while. It takes quite a long time for it to seep in to the ground.
When I questioned the owner of the nursery about amending the soil, he pointed to the mountains and said those tress all grow just fine in the Virginia clay.
Now I just mix some Black Cow ( compost/manure) in with the soil for the back fill but not too much!
I know many people who have had great experience amending the clay soil and all and then adding soil on top in a large area so that the trees are planted on what looks like a wide hill of all good soil worked deep.
I have been thinking about this for a while but never got around to trying out my theory. Try this *if you have some time*:
1- dig the hole for planting as deep as you need
2- get some annual rye grass seed and sprinkle them generously in the hole as well as around the hole
3- water enough to get the grass to grow about 6 inches
4- plant the crepe Myrtle (or whatever else) in the hole as usual adding whatever you normally would add
Let the rye grass around the hole die off naturally
explanation: Rye grass is a very deeply rooted grass. it can send roots down very far and once the grass is dead, the roots eventually decompose, leaving small spaces in the clay for water drainage. the smothered grass in the planting hole will add organic matter for the root zone of the crape myrtle.
I'm pretty sure a few seasons of annual ryegrass planting will significantly improve drainage in poor clay soils as well as improve the soil.
I also think that annual rye grass in a lawn can potentially be used to aerate the soil.
Radical thoughts, I know. Who wants to give it a shot? I'm still fighting crabgrass so I'm not ready to put down rye grass seen just yet.
I love Crape Myrtles. They are so forgiving and will grow like weeds.
My friend calls the severe pruning down to canes "crape murder".
I knew a woman who sheared hers down to the ground every year and it would come back like a bush.
You can start new ones from the runners.
I'm in New England now and I miss them. When we moved to Atlanta from Hawaii it was like seeing an old friend.
Beautiful trees. Best wishes for a long happy life with yours!
I love Crape Myrtles. They are so forgiving and will grow like weeds.
My friend calls the severe pruning down to canes "crape murder".
I knew a woman who sheared hers down to the ground every year and it would come back like a bush.
You can start new ones from the runners.
I'm in New England now and I miss them. When we moved to Atlanta from Hawaii it was like seeing an old friend.
Beautiful trees. Best wishes for a long happy life with yours!
They are very forgiving, and can even be almost invasive. I've got 3 that were "planted: by the birds. Almost as bad as the butterfly bushes!
I am in Prescott AZ and not sure what the soil is here. Rocky and hard and sandy in places. I love the CMs and planted two about 8 weeks ago. When the hot weather (90s) started, I saw them both wilt, regardless of how much water I gave them. So, I put the patio umbrella over them to give them some relief from the sun, until they could get started. Now they are both starting to bloom ! I think they just wanted a little shade.
We moved here to Virginia a year ago from the NY area and I immediately fell in love with the Crape Myrtles. The multi stem tress are gorgeous with there interesting Bark, the general shape of the tree and the beautiful flowers that last for quite some time.
Many places do commit Crape Murder! The lawn al Walmarthas them in the main drive isles of the parking lot so come spring they cut them down to about 2 feet above the ground and now they are already 4 feet tall and are thick dense bushes. So yes, they do get murdered and grow back like a weed! I love them and hope ours grow quickly!!
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