Friday, November 22, 2013

Tips On Growing The Crape Myrtle Tree

By Georgia Diaz


Gardeners looking to add some really vibrant color to their yards should consider planting a Crape Myrtle tree. These amazing trees and bushes have been popular with both gardeners and landscapers for many years. They are a hardy and drought resistant variety that lasts for a long time. They also have a very interesting history.

The trees have a very interesting history. They are native to Asia, particularly the Indian sub continent, parts of southern Asia, northern Australia and parts of Oceania. They were first exported by a Swedish merchant named Magnus von Lagerstrom who bought them back with him from his travels in the east. Many species of the tree still carry his name today and are known as Lagerstromia. The genus contains around fifty different species of trees and shrubs.

Many people are used to seeing the trees and bushes planted around commercial buildings and parking areas in the mid and southern United States. Landscapers favor them as they provide a beautiful display of color for much of the summer. In fact, the flowers can bloom for six months, given the right conditions. This makes them perfect for creating a beautiful display of color that makes even the most plain commercial building look better.

Those looking for some features to add to their garden should consider Crape Myrtles. They can provide a stunning dash of color to any space. In addition if left to grow they can create privacy for an urban back yard. Many people use them to mark their property line in a tasteful way. They are much easier on the eye than a plain fence and will also create some nice shade for the summer months.

The Crape Myrtle is also the landscapers friend. They are often planted to add a dash of color around commercial buildings. The wonderful reds and purples can brighten up any landscape, even in the middle of a busy town. Once established the trees are also low maintenance and will make it through a dry summer quite well.

The trees can live for a long time and grow quite large. Some people will eventually harvest the timber and use it for commercial purposes. It can be used for making furniture and for building. If the grower is more interested in bushes they will need to prune the trees back every spring. Careful work is needed to ensure that the bushes grow into a nice shape. Instructions on how to do this are available in books or even tutorials on the internet.

The biggest enemy of a Crape Myrtle tree is high humidity. For this reason they are commonly found inland in warm but dry regions of the east coast. Many areas of California are perfect for growing them. They are also affected by aphids. The simple solution is to spray the bush with a mild soap mixture as this prevents aphids attaching themselves.

One of the interesting facts about the Crape Myrtle tree is that occasionally its bark will shed. In contrast to the beautiful flowers the leaves are quite simple. They are usually only a few inches long with no distinguishing characteristics.




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