Thanks for responses so far. My container garden is on the roof of a 10 story, pre-war brick building on West 98th St in Manhattan. There are a few buildings in a row that same height, the garden portion of the roof faces the back courtyard and is off the street. We get the blasting sun starting just after dawn in the east all day long on most of the roof, and the water tower on the Western corner provides some shade starting around 1:00. On the sides facing West End Ave (and the Hudson River) the buildings are taller - like 20 stories so there is some protection. We are also only 2 blocks from Riverside Drive and the Hudson River, and that equals cold winds in the winter.
I like your suggestion of finding the right spot. We used to move some pots down to the courtyard in winter but they are just too heavy, and there are steps, and the elevator does not come all the way to the roof. So we have been wrapping the pots with bubblewrap, and moving some of them to more protected areas in the winter.
I have looked at the crapemyrtle.com website, and emailed them, and they said they have crape myrtles all over the city in the ground and in containers with no problem, and the ones with Indian Names were the most hardy, and right size. I am looking for some height (10-12 feet).
Gordon - I recently joined the NYC Rooftop Gardeners Meet-Up and signed up for your tour. So thanks for the offer to visit, but I will probably wait until the 9th, because I just got back from a long trip and am busy for the next week at least.
Now what does this mean? >>>>> find a microclime that will have it survive.>>>>
Thanks again.
