Buying Huge Crepe Myrtles and when to plant?

[horn4life]

Well I ahve been considering purchasing some large Crepe Myrtles and was wondering about the pros or cons of this. I was looking at bying probably two that are a little over 20 feet high and run a little over $200 a pop.

My understanding is that larger trees do not grow as fast as younger smaller trees but I was wondering if there were any negatives off hand anyone could think of. I was considering doing this in the Summer after I get the new rock beds laid out, but was thinking that Summertime planting might be too stressful for the tree?

Anyhow any help would be appreciated either pro or con.

 

[Jellydonuts]

I assume you live in Texas. I don't know where you are buying these from, but make sure you get a nice rootball for trees that size. If you plant these in the summer, you are going to stress them with the heat, especially if you put them in a rock garden that will heat up the ground even more. You would be better off waiting until mid Fall, or early Spring. Make sure to top layer with plenty of compost; transplanting trees of this size is very delicate.

 

[cbs]

Just a reminder: The bigger the tree you buy, the bigger the hole you dig. We planted a 1 gallon crepe myrtle in front of our house about 6 years ago, and it's now 15-20 feet high. It was also a hell of a lot less that $200 a tree, and I can virtually guarantee that it's healthier than a new planted 20 foot tree.

 

[7Titles]

I would wait till mid fall, you may even be able to get a deal then. The nursury should be able to give some sort of guarantee too. When I first planted a few bushes I planted some of them too deep, it took me forever to figure out what I had done wrong. Live and learn.

 

[horn4life]

The hole is going to be a ***** but I already pulled a big stump from one of the spots. The rootballs are good size and porportional (meaning a big damn hole.)

I am seriously thinking of having the nursery plant them for me as they will then guarantee the trees. Probably getting a discount for having the holes prepped in advance.

Yes I am from Texas the tress I looked at were at the Red Barn up on Pond Springs road, a killer nursery by the way.

The reason I wanted the larger trees was two fold one they will look nicer immediately, and I want them to provide some sun shielding on some front windows of my house.

 

[Jellydonuts]

Red Barn is definately one of the best in town. I would recommend watering frequently and incorporating some seaweed solution in your initial waterings. Also, I would hold off on covering with rocks until it has cooled off. Use some compost and mulch to keep the roots cool.

 

[TXHookem]

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[horn4life]

I was only going to form the edging in stone for a regular mulch covered bed that would have other low plantings around it. I keep delaying as it's gonna be a load of work and I am not particularly looking forward to the task of tearing out the old box hedges.

But getting close to deciding on the stone for the edging and going to paint where boundry will b e and take some measurements and do a bunch of math on the size and placements of the lower shubs and flowering bushes.