Growth Response of Crapemyrtle to Coppicing and Production Light Level

Abstract

Abstract The effects of production light level on coppicing and coppice timing were evaluated as means of accelerating the development of tree-form crapemyrtles. By the end of the growing season, ‘Fantasy’ and ‘Tuscarora’ coppiced in March and grown under 80% shade were 23 and 18% taller, respectively, than coppiced plants in full sun, but similar in height to plants under 50% shade. Coppiced Dynamite™ under 80% shade and coppiced ‘Carolina Beauty’ under 50% shade were 11 and 26% taller than coppiced plants in full sun, respectively, by the end of the growing season. Height of ‘Fantasy’ and ‘Tuscarora’, but not ‘Natchez’, at the end of the growing season decreased as coppicing was delayed from January to June. ‘Natchez’ coppiced in March were taller than plants coppiced in January or February and 68% taller than plants coppiced in June by the end of the growing season. Cross-sectional stem area of coppiced Dynamite™ and ‘Fantasy’ grown in full sun was greater than that of plants under 50 or 80% shade. Stem area of coppiced ‘Tuscarora’ under 50% shade was greater than that under 80% shade, but similar to that of coppiced plants in full sun. Stem area of coppiced ‘Carolina Beauty’ was greatest when grown in full sun, followed by growth under 50% shade, and least in plants grown under 80% shade. Stem area of ‘Fantasy’, ‘Natchez’, and ‘Tuscarora’ at the end of the growing season decreased linearly as coppicing was delayed from January to June. Visually, coppiced plants had straighter shoots, more uniform shoot diameters, and less branching off the main trunks than non-coppiced plants.