The Garden Club July 21, 2006

July 21, 2006

- Crape Myrtle 'Hopi'

- Garden Club Questions and Answers

The most winter hardy Crape Myrtle of all.
Crape Myrtles (Lagerstroemia) are known to be the longest blooming deciduous trees in existence, creating extended periods of striking summer color. This, combined with their alluring fall foliage and drought resistance, has made Crape Myrtles a favorite in both formal and informal landscapes throughout the south.

Crape Myrtles are native to Asia and were introduced to England and the U.S. during the 18th century. Since that time, extensive breeding of Crape Myrtles has resulted in a wide assortment of varieties from ground covers only two feet tall, to shrubs of all heights, to trees almost forty feet tall. The dwarf varieties of Crape Myrtles are allowing gardeners with smaller yards to enjoy these beautiful plants. Winter hardiness and summer mildew resistance have also been improved, allowing gardeners farther north to enjoy Crape Myrtles' fabulous summer display. Finally the exfoliating bark has been much improved. This week we are featuring 'Hopi' - in our experience the hardiest of all the Crape Myrtles.

'Hopi,' is one of several Crape Myrtles developed by the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. - all have been given Native American Indian tribe names. 'Hopi' brings color, texture and interest to the garden in several ways. From mid-summer into the fall, 'Hopi' will bloom with beautiful, medium pink flowers that have the crepe-paper look that Crape Myrtles are known for. The blooms will reach six to seven inches long, beginning relatively early in the season and go on for about 100 days. 'Hopi' has mildew-resistant dark green foliage that will turn to a reddish orange in the fall. It also has grayish-brown bark that will exfoliate with age and looks striking in the winter garden.

Planting and Care
'Hopi' is a compact cultivar, reaching just seven to ten feet tall and six feet wide. It can be grown as a small tree or a large shrub. 'Hopi' can be pruned easily to fit into smaller spaces, if needed. Grow several together to form a hedge, just one as a specimen, or in a container on a patio or porch.

Prefers full sun in an area with good air circulation and good soil drainage.
Disease and mildew resistant.
Water regularly until established.
Hardy in Zones 6-9 (protect the first winter in Zone 6).
Fertilize with Plant-Tone and Kelp Meal in early spring.
When necessary, prune in spring just as the new leaves emerge.
$38.85 from 2-gallon pots.

Crape Myrtle 'Hopi'

Garden Club Frequently Asked Questions

Question: I would love to have larkspur in my garden next spring. I actually wanted it in my garden this spring but when I went to your garden center to buy plants, your staff suggested I buy seeds instead, which I did but I can't remember when they told me to plant them to have blooms next spring.

Answer: Larkspur seeds are best planted in mid-August this year for bloom in spring next year.

Question: I live in Severna Park, Maryland and I would like to know when the young grubs are hatching and when can they be killed?

Answer: Japanese beetle grubs will be starting to hatch in August; so you can still apply Mach II through the end of July (Mach II kills young Japanese beetle grubs as they hatch).
Alternatively, you can wait until mid to late September, when most of the beetle grubs will have hatched, and apply Dylox - which kills beetle grubs on contact, but has no residual control.

Question: When the blooms fade on butterfly bushes do you cut them off to promote more?

Answer: Absolutely; giving the butterfly bush an overall light haircut, as the blooms fade will promote re-bloom. By carefully managing this process you should be able to have three cycles of butterfly bush blooms this season.

Question: I need to have a lot of color in my garden for a party this fall. If I plant flower seeds now will they all bloom in the fall?

Answer: If you plant the seeds of most annuals now, a couple of months late, they will not bloom at all. However, I have had good success sowing the seeds of both Cosmos and Cleome (spider flower) in late July for September bloom. I have sown Zinnia seeds, with good success, as late as the middle of July. If you plant Zinnias immediately, I think you will stand a reasonable chance of bloom by Labor Day. These seeds need to be sown directly in the garden where you want them to bloom. You can also sow pansy seed now.

Question: I am told I have nutsedge grass taking over my lawn. It is light green and grows much faster than my regular lawn grass. What is the best way to get rid of it?

Answer: The proper product to use is Manage, supplemented with a spreader sticker, no later that early August. For more explicit instructions, please refer to the Broadleaf Weed and Nutsedge control section of our Total Lawn Care program.

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