Crape Myrtle 'Dynamite' (PP 10296)
A Hardy Crape Myrtle Tree with True Red
Blooms Developed by Oaklahoma's Dr. Carl Whitcomb in 1998, 'Dynamite' produces abundant clusters of absolutely spectacular deep red flowers from crimson buds they will enliven your garden from mid summer until autumn. The blooms can reach 15 inches long and of course have the crape paper look that we love. The foliage starts as a deep burgundy in the spring and changes into a dark green by the end of summer. The leaves are very large, semi-glossy very thick and mildew resistant. In the fall the foliage turns from orange to red. 'Dynamite' exfoliates it's old gray bark to reveal the new light brown smooth bark underneath. Plant as a specimen tree; prune into a large multi-stemmed shrub, or plant several in a row to create a unique privacy hedge.
Planting and Care
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August
4, 2006
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Garden Club Frequently Asked
Questions Question: I used to buy a product called Copper Dragon for my vegetable garden. It was really good at controlling mildew and insects, especially for my squash. I have looked, but I can't find it anymore. Answer: I believe the company that made Copper Dragon has gone out of business and the product is no longer made under the name Copper Dragon. However, Bonide makes a product called Dragoon Dust with Copper. I don't remember the exact formulation of Copper Dragon, but if Dragoon Dust is not exactly the same, it is very, very similar and should be as effective. Question: I saw a Crape Myrtle bush with true brilliant purple blooms. It was different from any other Crape Myrtle I have seen. It was a bush not a tree and it grew about six feet tall. Do you know what it is and do you carry it? Answer: You saw the Crape Myrtle 'Catawba'. To the best of my knowledge it is the only Crape Myrtle with true purple flowers. Ultimately 'Catawba' will mature to a ten foot bush. We carry 'Catawba' and it is in stock at $38.85. Question: I have heard you say on the radio that you prefer liquid lawn weed killers to granules. However, there appears to be many liquid lawn weed killers and you don't always recommend the same one. How is a person to know which one to choose? Answer: I base my recommendations upon the specific weed in question and the time of year. Not all lawn weed killers work equally well on all types of weeds and not all work equally well at all times of the year. And some are much more expensive than others so I try to recommend the least expensive one that will do the job. For easy to control weeds like dandelions and plantains, in the spring and fall I recommend a Trimec formulation like Tiger brand lawn weed killer. For very difficult weeds like violets and ground ivy, I recommend liquid Turflon Ester or granular Confront. In between there is a whole assortment of products such as Speed Zone, Weed Beater Ultra, Spurge Power and Bonide Chickweed, Clover and Oxalis killer. Your best bet is to bring samples of your weeds into your garden center or e-mail us pictures of your weeds and let us recommend the appropriate lawn weed killer. Question: We live in Virginia and we never can get a nice planting of rhubarb established. Answer: Depending on where you live in Virginia, rhubarb's performance will vary. Rhubarb likes a cool root run and in Virginia it will do best in the mountains. You can keep the soil a little cooler by planting your rhubarb in a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. Be sure that the soil stays moist and is heavily enriched with compost. If you get a rhubarb to establish, do not disturb it by transplanting. I know of no one variety of rhubarb to be more heat tolerant than another; but I have noticed that under imperfect conditions one rhubarb plant sometimes establishes itself and thrives when all of its neighbors dwindle away and perish. So I suggest you keep trying. Potted rhubarb plants from the nursery are easier to establish than bare root divisions sold in cardboard packages or wrapped in moss by a mail order company. Question: I live in Illinois and you almost surely have heard about our excessively hot weather. My plants look really stressed. Once the weather starts to cool would a spray of Messenger help revive them? Answer: Absolutely and don't forget to feed the roots either with SeaMate or Espoma's new Biotone Starter. Question: I have around 18,000 square feet of lawn. How much Turf Trust should I purchase. Also, I will be slit/over-seeding at the end of August. Do these machines put down seed based on pounds of seed per 1,000 square feet? I just need to calculate things beforehand. Answer: Each bag of Turf Trust covers 5000 square feet for a single application. Most slit seeders use seven pounds of Black Beauty Fall Turf-type fescue per 1000 square feet.
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