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| Crepe myrtle with annual fertilizer applications |
Q.
I inherited an established crepe or crape myrtle tree when we moved into a bank-owned vacant
home two years ago. The landscaping was
pretty distressed. I replaced the rock
mulch with bark and the drip system seems to be working fine. The tips of the leaves are dry and brittle
and it blooms very little.
A.
You are probably going to have to give this crepe myrtle a jumpstart. It is
good you put down a wood mulch with this type of tree. I hope this is wood and
not bark mulch.
Since it is summer now you want it
to push some new growth so you can see the tree’s strengths. Fertilizer is okay
to apply now to trees and shrubs.
to push some new growth so you can see the tree’s strengths. Fertilizer is okay
to apply now to trees and shrubs.
Use a normal tree and shrub
fertilizer and apply it a foot or two away from the trunk and close to its
source or sources of water. Water it in with a hose.
fertilizer and apply it a foot or two away from the trunk and close to its
source or sources of water. Water it in with a hose.
Construct a moat or a doughnut
around the trunk of the tree at least 4 feet in diameter and 4 inches tall.
This is nothing more than an irrigation basin to hold water. Fill this basin
with water from a hose once a week for the next four weeks. Let your irrigation
system run normally during this time.
around the trunk of the tree at least 4 feet in diameter and 4 inches tall.
This is nothing more than an irrigation basin to hold water. Fill this basin
with water from a hose once a week for the next four weeks. Let your irrigation
system run normally during this time.
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| Crepe myrtle trunk and bark |
Let irrigations push the fertilizer
into the root area of the soil over the next couple of weeks. At the same time,
add an iron chelate along with the fertilizer. The best iron chelate is iron EDDHA.
You can find it in most nurseries now.
When the weather cools off in the
fall, around September, spray the foliage with Miracle Gro fertilizer used for
the promotion of flowering. Try using a hose end fertilizer applicator so you
can get it to spray that high.
fall, around September, spray the foliage with Miracle Gro fertilizer used for
the promotion of flowering. Try using a hose end fertilizer applicator so you
can get it to spray that high.
If you can’t spray that high, apply
it to the soil and water it in.
it to the soil and water it in.
Next spring start pruning out the
deadwood in the canopy. Don’t climb in the tree, but rather I would use a
ladder. This is time-consuming because you will be cutting a lot of tiny
branches along with some larger ones. Basically you are thinning out the canopy
and getting rid of branches on top of each other or crossing each other.
deadwood in the canopy. Don’t climb in the tree, but rather I would use a
ladder. This is time-consuming because you will be cutting a lot of tiny
branches along with some larger ones. Basically you are thinning out the canopy
and getting rid of branches on top of each other or crossing each other.
I question if your tree is getting
enough water. If it is a sizeable tree it will require 30 or more gallons
during each watering. You will have to look at your irrigation emitters and the
time on your irrigation valve to figure this out.
enough water. If it is a sizeable tree it will require 30 or more gallons
during each watering. You will have to look at your irrigation emitters and the
time on your irrigation valve to figure this out.