SHOOTS & MATTERS: Two of My Favorites - Crepe Myrtles and Japanese Maples

The following plants reside on a wonderfully planned and beautiful landscape. I love focusing on any project or goal whether it be some minor pruning for health reasons and aesthetics to getting my head and hands around a much-neglected area of one's property.

But, walking around a well-laid palette and such variety of plants for several hours can elevate one's spirit while at the same time producing a sense of peace.

From the lines drawn for the bed borders to the selection of plants and there placement, the signs of a person who loves and understands her plants shines through. There are vignettes and atmospheres. It's gorgeous. And, the home itself and the man-made exterior areas - functional and appealing. The back of the property rivals the front.

There were the three wonderful crepe myrtles I pruned in early March. Although, what may have been perceived as vibrant crepe myrtles, they were not what they could be. There were dead and diverted branches and unmanaged growth - unhealthy and less pleasing over the life of the trees.

Pruning basically was performed for health reasons and slightly for aesthetics, but mainly for future growth habit and future aesthetics.

The overall shape of the crown and the raised canopies showed off the legs of these three gorgeous girls and had it looking as if it was growing in an open meadow, being the highlight of and for the understory plants and bed below.

Later, during spring foliage, the changes were more obvious and very attractive.

Following, I am simply displaying some before-and-after photos for you to see what was addressed. The overall goal, beyond pruning for health reasons, was to back them off the home or make cuts to those with no future but to encroach the home. Also, the interior density was addressed to allow some air and light in, while raising canopies to show separation from surrounding plants and allow for their future growth.

Please take the opportunity to look beyond what I am displaying to realize what this customer has done with her property.

I hope I am an integral part of this, but she is the creative and trained mind behind it all.

Japanese Maple - Before

Thankful, is all I can be.

There are many other plants I love pruning, but some do find there way to the bottom of the list. An out-of-control, monstrous elaeagnus comes to mind.

But hey, they all must be addressed at some time. Right, Elaine?