GardenDC Podcast Episode 119: Crapemyrtles

In this episode, we talk with Margaret Pooler, Supervisory Research Geneticist with the USDA-ARS, all about Crapemyrtles. The plant profile is on Coleus and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events.

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SHOW NOTES:

01:00 Introducing Margaret Pooler, Supervisory Research Geneticist with the USDA-ARS 04:25 What are you working on? 08:33 What’s growing in your garden? 09:04 “I grow things that I like or things that have personal meaning” -Margaret 10:53 A name like no other… Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) 13:25 “They went from being, not even in the US, to now I think there’s like three million plants sold each year by the industry.” -Margaret 14:10 A Tree? A Shrub? Both? 17:46 A plant for All seasons 21:57 Tips and tricks for healthy growing 26:14 Stop and smell the crape myrtles 27:29 Best pruning practices 32:27 Crape myrtles for plots big and small 34:02 The historic plight of powdery mildew and disease 38:30 “There’s at least, like, 200 named crapemyrtle cultivars out there, so, we don’t want to just keep adding more and more that don’t have a specific purpose.” -Margaret 41:22 Crapemyrtles and sooty mold 46:20 How to propagate productively 48:55 How to reach Margaret https://www.usna.usda.gov/ 50:58 This week's plant profile is... Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) 52:45 What's new in the garden? Cucamelons & Dahlia flowers 53:08 What’s going on around town? We’ll be at Greenspring, American Horticultural Society’s centennial, Smithsonian semi-centennial, and several sales

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Episode 22: Fruit Trees, Crape Myrtle, and Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/08/gardendc-podcast-episode-22-fruit-trees.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 6: Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/04/gardendc-podcast-episode-6-spring.html

This episode is archived online at: 

https://anchor.fm/gardendc/episodes/Crapemyrtles-e1nkhm1

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Episode Credits:

Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Editing and Show Notes: Brandie Bland

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August 2020 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine – Creating a Water Garden Oasis, Crape Myrtle, Garden Myths, and more…

The August 2020 issue of Washington Gardener Magazine is out now.

Inside this issue:

·         Water in the Landscape: Creating a Garden Oasis

·         Crape Myrtle Plant Profile

·         7 Garden Myths Busted!

·         Protect Your Edibles with a Rabbit-proof Box

·         Use Stunning Plants to Create a Statement in Your Landscape

·         Lettuce Planting and Fall Timing

·         A Honey Bee Haven in University Park

·         What to Do in the Garden this Month

·         Teaching Lessons in the Garden with Dr. Amy Goodall

·         DC-MD-VA Gardening Events Calendar
and much more…

Note that any submissions, event listings, and advertisements for the September 2020 issue are due by September 5.

>>  Subscribe to Washington Gardener Magazine today to have the monthly publication sent to your inbox as a PDF several days before it is available online. You can use the PayPal (credit card) online order form here: http://www.washingtongardener.com/index_files/subscribe.htm

GardenDC Podcast Episode 22: Fruit Trees, Crape Myrtle, and Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives

This episode we talk with Michael McConkey of Edible Landscaping about Fruit Trees. The plant profile is on Crape Myrtles and I share Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives.

BTW, YOU can become  a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month!See how at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/support. 

The episode is posted at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/episodes/August-1--2020---Fruit-Trees--Crape-Myrtle--and-Low-Maintenance-Lawn-Alternatives-ehg94h

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• ·         Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1502631179/gardendc
• ·         Google Podcasts at this link, either now or soon (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices)

We welcome your questions and comments!

You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/kathy-jentz/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

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Plant Profile: Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia)

Crape Myrtles are native to Asia and were introduced to the United States in 1790. Crape Myrtles are known for their colorful, long-lasting flowers that bloom in the summer. The flowers are born on long branches in panicles of crinkled blossoms with crape-like texture. Flower colors vary from deep-purple to red and white, with almost every shade in between.

After flowering, it produces seed capsules that start off green then turn dark brown. It is not necessary to cut these seeds off, unless you find them unattractive.

In the wild, most crape myrtle are multi-stemmed large shrubs, but today it is possible to find a crape myrtle filling every landscaping need from small trees to dense barrier hedges to container-sized varieties that grow only 2 foot tall.

The practice of topping-off crape myrtles to keep their growth in check is not advisable. Instead, pick a variety that is bred to reach full maturity at a smaller size.

One of the joys of crape myrtle tree is its brilliant fall color and in the winter is its beautiful, exfoliating bark. It takes a few years to develop that bark texture, so give it time.

Many of the newer crape myrtle varieties were developed at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC. These were bred to be disease-resistant and hardier for northern climates. They are generally hardy to Zone 7. If planted in colder zones, they die back to the ground each winter, but with care and lots of mulching will regenerate new growth from their roots.

‘Natchez’ (white flowers), ‘Sioux’ (dark pink), and ‘Muskogee’ (light lavender) are three of the most popular National Arboretum introductions with many more being developed by other people. Some of the newer varieties have burgundy leaves with blooms from purple to brilliant pink and others are dwarf in form.

Crape myrtles bloom on new growth, so you can prune them in the early spring, if you so desire, and they will still flower that summer.

Crape myrtle flowers most heavily in full sun. Other things that may cause Crape Myrtles to bloom less are too much water, lack of heat, and over-fertilization. Note also that crape myrtles are one of the last plants to leaf out in the spring, so if you think yours might be dead in April give it until the end of May to prove its case.

Crape Myrtle - You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Visuals by Taylor Calavetinos

Audio by Kathy Jentz

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Video Wednesday: Crape Myrtles - You Can Grow That!

Crape Myrtles are a beautiful, multi-stemmed, flowering shrub that has many landscape uses. For those in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions of the United States, it is reliably hardy and easily available at your local independent garden center.

Garden Bloggers You Can Grow That! Day was started by C. L. Fornari of Whole Life Gardening because she believes “Gardening is one of the most life-affirming things we can do.…We need to thoroughly saturate people with the belief that plants and gardening are worth doing because of the benefits gained.” Garden bloggers who agree post about something worth growing on the fourth day of every month. Read this month’s You Can Grow That! posts.