A number of Owners have expressed concerns about the increasing nuisance of the four Crepe Myrtle trees planted along the north side of Building 1.
Over the years, these Crepes have become overgrown, particularly for the 4-foot-wide area between the enclosed patios’ concrete slabs and the common sidewalk. Their roots have encroached under the slabs and sidewalks resulting in what will soon become a costly repair project. Crepe Myrtle roots do not sink taproots deep into the ground. In fact, the entire Crepe Myrtle root system is shallow and fibrous, spreading out horizontally up to three times as far as the canopy is wide. The trees and their root systems are much too expansive for the limited spaces along the walkway.
The Crepes shed husks, flowers, leaves, and bark for three quarters of the year. This debris clogs the gutters and causes damage to the roofs of the garage units. If not trimmed at least annually, the limbs hang over Building 1 and the garages, enabling pests to access the roofs. The debris also congests the walkway drains resulting in standing water after most rains. This past summer, aphids invaded the trees, generating a black tar-like substance that dripped onto the plantings below, the sidewalk, and patios creating a sticky mess.
After much research, the Board first considered “Crepe Murdering”. This practice was decided against because severe pruning or topping of Crepe Myrtles (down to 10 feet) removes strong, viable limbs and encourages the growth of weak and flimsy shoots that often are not strong enough to support the blooms come spring and summer. The cuts made at pruning can allow disease and rot to enter the tree which can eventually result in its untimely demise. Plus, adopting a yearly program of denuding would not address the spreading root issues, and would substantially increase annual landscaping expense.
Although the beautiful Crepe canopy enhances the common walkway, the current and predicted nuisance and damage concerns remain. The Board has unanimously (although reluctantly) decided the trees must be removed. Our contract landscaper, Legacy Landscapes & Tree Service, will be taking down the Crepes in early November.
Building 1 Unit Owners will collaborate to choose a variety of trees with smaller root systems, less debris, and lower maintenance that will ultimately soften the spaces once shaded by the Crepe Myrtles. Further, the Owners have generously agreed to cover the acquisition and planting costs.