Newly planted crape myrtle - Ask Extension
Hello - and thank you for previous help with this. The crape myrtle appears to be flourishing. It began as a mere stick! As you see, the one-and-a-hal...
Knowledgebase
Newly planted crape myrtle #403592
Asked May 31, 2017, 12:22 PM EDT
Hello - and thank you for previous help with this.
The crape myrtle appears to be flourishing. It began as a mere stick! As you see, the one-and-a-half inch by one inch wooden stake is closely tied to the trunk of the tree itself in parts. When might I remove the stake/remove the tie-tapes?
Thanks much for all your help for this novice!
Fran
The crape myrtle appears to be flourishing. It began as a mere stick! As you see, the one-and-a-half inch by one inch wooden stake is closely tied to the trunk of the tree itself in parts. When might I remove the stake/remove the tie-tapes?
Thanks much for all your help for this novice!
Fran
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Fran:
Nice! It'll be quite a sight later this year. I would suggest removing the tie tape on the top and middle and leave only the bottom part. Doing this allows some stem movement and will force the plant to develop a stiffer trunk as it moves around a bit in the breeze. This process will not occur with it trussed as it is. You want it to move a least a bit for this to occur, but by leaving on the bottom tie it won't just fall over. You might remove the top one, see how it does for a week or two, then remove the middle one. If all is well after this you should cut off the excess stake too so it does not rub on your tree and it can move around freely.
Nice! It'll be quite a sight later this year. I would suggest removing the tie tape on the top and middle and leave only the bottom part. Doing this allows some stem movement and will force the plant to develop a stiffer trunk as it moves around a bit in the breeze. This process will not occur with it trussed as it is. You want it to move a least a bit for this to occur, but by leaving on the bottom tie it won't just fall over. You might remove the top one, see how it does for a week or two, then remove the middle one. If all is well after this you should cut off the excess stake too so it does not rub on your tree and it can move around freely.
Hello Neil,
Thank you so much for your prompt and helpful reply. I will follow your instructions and have already removed the top tie. I'll remove the middle one in a week or so.
I'm a bit concerned about the lower tie, since it's so tight against the stake and doesn't look like it will give the trunk room to grow in width. If it cannot grow trussed this way, should I remove it and replace the tape? I could do that in a different spot where the trunk is further from the stake. As it is, it appears the stake will "rub on your tree" and it will not be able to "move around freely." Thank you! Fran
Thank you so much for your prompt and helpful reply. I will follow your instructions and have already removed the top tie. I'll remove the middle one in a week or so.
I'm a bit concerned about the lower tie, since it's so tight against the stake and doesn't look like it will give the trunk room to grow in width. If it cannot grow trussed this way, should I remove it and replace the tape? I could do that in a different spot where the trunk is further from the stake. As it is, it appears the stake will "rub on your tree" and it will not be able to "move around freely." Thank you! Fran
Fan:
If it is too tight, you can cut it off and replace it. That green tie tape is nice as it is thick and flexible. Good stuff for tying lots of things in the garden.
