Replacement for crepe myrtle in front yard (Magnolia: 2015, house)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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We have a crepe myrtle in the front yard of our new (to us) home. It is beautiful, but a god awful mess right now. There are blooms all over the place, and they stick to the sidewalk and driveway (and any cars that might be parked there), get tracked into the house, etc. I'd like to have this tree removed, and replaced with a lower maintenance (less shedding) tree. The pic below shows the tree (not in bloom in the photo).
We'd considered a dogwood, but are not especially knowledgeable with trees/plants, so thought I'd see if I could get some recommendations for what would work well in this space. Also, if you have a landscape company you like, I'd love those recs as well, as we have some other things we'd like to update in our yard. (And I will add--if its feasible, we'll relocate the crepe myrtle to a natural area in our backyard, where it can shed its blooms to its heart's content. )
We have a crepe myrtle in the front yard of our new (to us) home. It is beautiful, but a god awful mess right now. There are blooms all over the place, and they stick to the sidewalk and driveway (and any cars that might be parked there), get tracked into the house, etc. I'd like to have this tree removed, and replaced with a lower maintenance (less shedding) tree. The pic below shows the tree (not in bloom in the photo).
We'd considered a dogwood, but are not especially knowledgeable with trees/plants, so thought I'd see if I could get some recommendations for what would work well in this space. Also, if you have a landscape company you like, I'd love those recs as well, as we have some other things we'd like to update in our yard. (And I will add--if its feasible, we'll relocate the crepe myrtle to a natural area in our backyard, where it can shed its blooms to its heart's content. )
I would consider a dogwood there, but not in the exact spot. They layer out and can get broad. It is part of the beauty. I have one about 15 years old in my back yard that is about 15' wide at 5' off the ground. I wouldn't want it close to the driveway for that reason.
You can probably move the crape myrtle successfully. It is a shame that it has been topped and disfigured. For that alone, getting it away from the front of the house will be an upgrade.
A heavy thinning will help, but the shock of a move and thinning may be a bit much if done at the same time.
Last edited by MikeJaquish; 07-31-2017 at 02:31 PM..
Ok, so the lack of proper pruning could be part of our problem? At the state it's in now, can it be pruned correctly at this point or is it a lost cause? (Told ya, I'm clueless about this.. lol)
Ok, so the lack of proper pruning could be part of our problem? At the state it's in now, can it be pruned correctly at this point or is it a lost cause? (Told ya, I'm clueless about this.. lol)
You can rehab it to some degree, if you are patient. It will take several years for the plant to regain natural form and "grow through" the disfiguration.
Some pruning information: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifes...=.3806d0bbf560
If one is tempted to top a plant, the proper thing to do would be to move it to where it has adequate space to assume its beautiful natural form.
People will tell you they have to destroy the form to get the plant to bloom profusely. Obviously not so.
Some shots of my crape myrtles:
Last edited by MikeJaquish; 07-31-2017 at 02:55 PM..
Ok, so the lack of proper pruning could be part of our problem? At the state it's in now, can it be pruned correctly at this point or is it a lost cause? (Told ya, I'm clueless about this.. lol)
Well, pruning won't help with the flower blossoms.. those kind of go with the crepe myrtle territory.
Thanks.. probably going to stick with plans to remove/move it then. Anyone have any recs for a good replacement tree for this space? One that grows more "up" than "out," if that makes sense?
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