Should crepe myrtles be cut back every year?
First of all, pruning crepe myrtles is optional; if the plant is in the correct place and can grow to its mature size, let it grow! If you need to prune your crepe myrtle tree or shrub, thinning branches to limb up the crepe myrtle is the correct method. Remove lower limbs that are thinner than a pencil diameter. If you’ve beheaded a big crepe myrtle to within a few feet of the ground, there’s only one solution. Cut the sorry plant completely to the ground. It will grow back very quickly. The next winter, select three to five well-spaced trunks and cut off any others at ground level.While pruning a tree is always a good idea for long-term health, crepe murder happens when crepe myrtle trees are overpruned. Overpruning is described as cutting back of main branches or “topping”. Since crepe myrtle trees grow naturally into a pretty form, they don’t need to be trimmed too much.Crepe myrtle bushes tend to grow shorter with a shrubby form. They often have several stems growing from the base. These are great as ornamental shrubs, border plants, or in group plantings. Crepe myrtle trees, on the other hand, grow upright.Crepe myrtles need regular watering to produce abundant blooms. Regular rains should do the trick, but you will need to help your crepe out more during dry spells. However, don’t be too hasty to water as overwatering can lead to disease and root rot. Let the soil dry slightly between drinks to keep your blooms happy.
Where is the best place to plant crepe myrtles?
Crape Myrtle Trees need plenty of sun, so choose a bright sunny spot for your planting. They are idea for those hot, dry places where other plants do not thrive, so take advantage of that and use them in places that can be hard to fill. Crape myrtles are heat loving trees and often they are one of the last trees to leaf out in spring. They require at least three days above 70ºF to wake and show bud break. This can be as early as April or as late as early May. Once warm weather arrives in earnest they will grow steadily.Crape myrtles are very hardy, so they are very forgiving during periods of neglect or over pruning, but imagine the display of flowers your plant will give you with the proper care! Newer branches won’t be able to hold the weight of the blooms due to growing too long and weak especially when wet.Crape myrtles planted in winter, spring, and fall should manage well with just one deep watering per week, but if you choose to plant in summer, you may need to add an extra weekly watering if there are heatwave or drought conditions.During spring and summer, 4-6 inches of mulch should be placed a few inches away from the trunk to provide good air circulation. The best type of mulch for your crape myrtle is acid mulch, pine bark or oak leaves. Do not mulch with mushroom compost.Wrapping young (1 year or less) and small Crape Myrtle trees is advisable. Wrap burlap around the branches and add an insulating filler such as leaves or straw to provide additional protection. Shrub jackets are reusable insulating covers that cover the entire plant and can be used for small or dwarf plants.
How do you keep crepe myrtles healthy?
It is important to prune your Crepe Myrtle trees to look their best and stay healthy. Pruning should occur during the winter months since this is when they are dormant. They just need a simple cleanup, including removing dead or diseased branches and branches growing toward the tree’s center or crossing another branch. When establishing your plant, water it several times a week. For Crepe Myrtle Shrubs, this establishment period typically lasts several months to a year depending on the size of the shrub. Well-established plants need to be watered weekly. This is especially important in hot and dry climates.Crepe myrtles have a lifespan of around 25 years. However, some crepe myrtles have been known to live for 100 years or more! This tree does best in full sun and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and can withstand extreme heat.If you do choose to prune your crepe myrtles, pruning should take place in mid-February to avoid winter injury. Pruning should be done only to shape the tree; not to severely control plant height. Pruning is also not necessary for blooming.When leaves turn brown, the energy from the leaves is being pushed back down into the plant. If you prune at this time, you are robbing the tree of energy stores. I’m in Australia I have a few different crepe myrtle but this one is the best for flowers. I cut back every year to keep a small height.
What are the disadvantages of crape myrtles?
The most common problems we see with crape myrtle can be “crape MURDER”, some leaf diseases, like powdery mildew, crape myrtle bark scale, aphids, and beetles. Don’t plant Crape Myrtles in shade. Crape Myrtles perform their best in 6+ hours of blistering full sun per day. Even light shade at various times during the day will greatly reduce flowering, cause the tree to appear thin, and force it to reach for the sun, creating a leggy look.Crape Myrtles began being cut back after recommendation of cutting the dead flower buds from the previous season. This was to promote more blooms in the next season. Crape myrtles grow very tall so people began cutting them where they could reach resulting in the masses cutting the trees back to nothing.Another controversy surrounding crape myrtles is that they are not native to the United States. They are actually native to China and other Asian countries. These trees first made their way to England and from there to the United States by way of Charleston, South Carolina, in 1786.Crape myrtles are very drought resistant once established. FERTILIZING: Apply a slow release fertilizer with a 3-1-1 ratio of nitrogen to phosphorous and potassium. Ex- amples include a 12-4-4 or 18-6-6 fertilizer, applied in late Winter or early Spring as leaves emerge, and again in July.
What is the best fertilizer for crape myrtles?
Crape myrtles are very drought resistant once established. FERTILIZING: Apply a slow release fertilizer with a 3-1-1 ratio of nitrogen to phosphorous and potassium. Ex- amples include a 12-4-4 or 18-6-6 fertilizer, applied in late Winter or early Spring as leaves emerge, and again in July. Add Extra Mulch over the Root Zone Increase the amount of mulch over the root zone of your crape myrtle up to 6 inches to insulate roots from the cold. One bag of premium triple shredded bark mulch per tree should be sufficient and is available throughout the season at Gasper Home & Garden Showplace in Richboro, PA.