Beginner Gardening: i need a little more advice about my crape myrtle., 1 by Pughbear7

Pughbear7 wrote:
Jess:
I guess one thing no one has asked that I am wondering is what exposure are you dealing with Is the tree on the north side of the house south side ? How much direct sun does it get during the day? These two things are important I am guessing due to the fact it is growing by leaps and bounds is that it get at least half a days full sun.
Everyone is giving great advise. I have moved crepe myrtles in june here in oklahoma. without the 3 year dig and prune and next year a little more. Crepe myrtles are tough plants. The key to moving them as with any plant you either move or plant is keeping them adequately watered. At a minimum 2x daily for the first few weeks then back off to once a day for a couple of weekes then everyother day for a few weeks. The issue you have that is unique is the brutal summers we go through If we get a tough summer of 100+ for 3 months it can be an issue with the whole landscape not just new or transplanted.
I would proceed as they have instructed you as tie the ribbon and wait a few days. Sometimes It may take me a week ore more until I get the picture I am after in my head. Pruning is as much an art form as it is personal. The optimum time to prune crape myrtles in oklahoma is january or february. I would not trim on it much past the 1st part of july as the new growth coming on will be dealing with excessive heat. It is not going to hurt anything to trim a little each year until you get it where you want it to be. Landscapes to me are contantly changing and never a finished thing. But thats just me. And as you probably have guessed I am not afraid to rip it all out and start over. or move things around untill I think the plant seems happy.
You may try to take some of the softer (greener) parts from what you remove and root it in water. Just make sure it gets lots of indirect light. I know everyone has got to be thinking I am nuts. maybe I am abit but I also like to have a backup and I just like to try to expand my plant inventory if you will. By starting a new plant you will have an original that you can plant later if you decide to move it and it does fail to survive.
Another thing no one has discussed is the option of just cutting everything down to the ground next spring and starting over. they will come back from the roots. The reason we in oklahoma do not have the standard "tree - single stem" planted a lot more is every so oftem mother nature comes along and decides to just whip our buts into submission. and most crape myrtles will freeze to the ground when that happens.
I will get off my soap box now, and just say have fun with it. No matter what you do to it as long as it pleases you then it is the right thing to do. You are the one that has to look at it day after day.
I am moving later this summer across town so it might be a bit before I can get anything really going. please dmail me from time to time and I will send you some fresh starts of crepe myrtle so you can have the joy of planting a very small start and trimming just the way you want it.
Dave
Tulsa, OK
Zone 6b