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Living and working in the Eastern Mediterranean, I've come to the conclusion that there's one tree amongst many that is unmatched in its suitability for a small home garden in a dry climate. That tree is Lagerstroemia indica, which you may know as Crape Myrtle. It is literally a year round performer. It's not that it simply looks good 12 months of the year, rather it looks different and good all year. In the summer you get a magnificent flower display, ranging from pink, red or white, depending on the variety. In the autumn, you get fall colour. This varies of course with the length and coldness of the season, but in places where the winter is fairly chilly, the autumn leaf display can be quite spectacular. When out of leaf, the tree makes a delightful silhouette, where the reddish, pealing bark is an added feature. Come springtime, and the juvenile leaves have that bright green, fresh colour special to deciduous trees and absent from evergreens.
These factors funnily enough, are not sufficient in themselves to make the decision in favour of this or that tree. Many a serious mistake has been made because the home owner has been so impressed by some outstanding characteristic of a particular species, that they've ignored 4 cardinal criteria that must be taken into account as a pre-condition for their choice. I'm not talking about choosing a tropical tree in an artic winter climate. Obviously you're not going to do that! Here are the" big four".
*The tree must not have aggressively invasive roots. Don't be tempted otherwise, no matter how superb the tree may look in other locations.
*The size of the tree should be in scale with the size of the house and the garden as a whole. Planting a massive Eucalyptus in a small 75 meter plot is a major design error.
* The tree should be hardy to pests and disease. Many fruit trees will turn your garden into a chemical battle site! (With regard to Lagerstroemia, be sure to ask your supplier for a variety that is hardy to mildew)
* The tree should be suitable as far as size, shape and form are concerned. Flower or fall color are a bonus, but these other factors are primary, because the tree should look good all year round.
And this is why I think the Crape Myrtle is so right. It's a small tree, reaching up to about 5 -6 meters. It can be planted close to the house without fear of dangerous roots. It's virtually pest and disease free (the mildew hardy varieties at least) and it's simply a stunning performer. Finally, it combines superbly with another "must" tree for a small garden - the Pomegranate.
About the Author
My name is Jonathan Ya'akobi. I've been gardening in a professional capacity since 1984. I am the former head gardener of the Jerusalem Botanical Garden, but now concentrate on building gardens for private home owners. I also teach horticulture to students on training courses. I'd love to share my knowledge and experience with you. So you're welcome to visit me on http://www.dryclimategardening.com
Friday, 13 June 2008
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