My yard has three large crepe myrtles used as a divider between us and the neighbor's driveway. They are 15-20 feet tall and a few branches are beginning to droop. (Pictures to follow in the next few days...UPDATE...Pictures have been added.) Should these be cut or is that just the natural way of things. What's the maintenance advice for these?
Note the one branch hanging low in front of the window...
Above is the view from the street looking directly down the row of trees. Notice how the branches partially block the house.
Here's the side view. Gives you a good idea of the shape of the tree. So...your thoughts?
2 comments:
Crepe murder as my mother calls it. Every house in our neighborhood hacks their myrtles to about 5 feet tall each Spring. It results in a crepe myrtle bush that is not exactly ugly when in bloom but is an eye sore when the leaves fall off and you have to look at the knotty spots where the new growth is. I personally prefer the tress but I can see why you would not want what is happening at your place. I would definitely try to prune away what is bothering without trying to reduce them drastically. (I imagine it would be something like how the Eskimos envision the shape within the whale bone and then whittle away everything that was not part of that shape.) I think I have a book at home that specifically discusses how to prune crepe myrtles if you would like to see it.
allen has all the southern gardening books. there's gotta be something in there!
Lots of people trim the lower branches giving it a clean bottom half, so it only spreads out at the top. kinda sexy. Maybe that would make them less floppy?
Post a Comment