The crepe myrtle we purchased.  These lower limbs need to be pruned next spring. — The crepe myrtle we purchased. These lower limbs need to be pruned next spring.

The other day we purchased a crepe myrtle tree to replace a dying/almost dead dogwood. I don't know too much about crepe myrtle just that I like the looks of the tree especially with its colorful blossoms, smooth bark and fringe canopy of branches. What I didn't know was that the tree in its natural state has many lower branches causing it to look more like a bush. It is only in pruning and training those branches will the tree look like the smooth trunk crepe myrtles I see around town.

When we spoke with the nursery owner about the tree's care, he suggested waiting until next spring to do any of the pruning of the lower branches. Once we do that, then the lower portion of the tree's trunk will remain smooth. Also he suggested that we wait another year before we "topped" the tree (cutting back the top branches so that it remains at a certain height).

It got me thinking...

How many times do I want to get things done and in the process rush and not do them well? Or in my impatience I don't take the time to learn and understand the significance of what I am doing?

The crepe myrtle shape we want- smooth lower trunk with fringe canopy.

Sometimes I have to wait until what I want to accomplish can be done. Sometimes I have to let things be, before they can be improved. Sometimes I need to uncover more information before I make any decisions. Changing things too early or too often can be detrimental. In the case of the crepe myrtle, if I remove the lower branches now, I can stress the tree as it prepares for winter. If I hadn't asked the nursery owner about the tree's care, I could have done irreparable damage.

What about you? Have you ever had to wait a while before you could accomplish something? Did you ever have to research and learn something before your could even begin? How did that go? What was your strategy in waiting?