Often asked: When to cut back crepe myrtle?

What happens if you don’t prune crepe myrtles?

Flowers are not the only virtue of this tree. Many varieties have beautiful bark and growth habits that can be enjoyed all year if trees are not heavily pruned. This unsightly, ugly pruning known as crape murder is not recommended. Once it’s done, it ruins the tree’s graceful natural shape for the rest of its life.

Is it too early to cut back crepe myrtle?

While we consider late winter to be the ideal time to prune crape myrtles, now (early spring) is also OK for pruning them. Pruning as late as May will likely cause some delay in bloom time, and pruning later than May may delay bloom noticeably but will not harm the tree.

Can I cut my crepe myrtle to the ground?

One would be to do as you ask, and start over by cutting the plant to the ground. This will take time to restructure the tree. If you do this, choose three to five sprouts that appear, and prune out everything else. Pruning of crape myrtles should be done in late February to early March.

Can I prune crepe myrtle in summer?

Pruning crepe myrtles in summer is not the optimal time of year to trim your trees, unless you wait until after they bloom. Floridata notes that some cultivars continue to bloom for as long as 120 days, making this tree or large shrub a popular landscape plant.

Are you supposed to cut back crepe myrtles?

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. The seed heads from last year can remain on the plant all year, and you will still get good blooming in the current year.

Should you trim crepe myrtles every year?

Growing Conditions



Also, crepe myrtles need minimal pruning. Some gardeners top them annually, but this ruins their natural shape and beauty. Only prune to shape trees or to take out any cross branching. In the winter, you can remove old seedpods by clipping the tips of branches.

Where do you cut back crepe myrtles?

Cut off suckers from the bottom, rubbing and cross growing branches and branches growing inward. Gradually cut off all side branches from the main base as the tree gets taller. Never leave lone or clustered stubs. Be sure to remove unwanted branches before they get too thick (thickness of a pencil).

Why is my crepe myrtle not blooming?

If there are no flowers on crepe myrtle, it could be that the tree was pruned late in the season, causing the new wood to be mistakenly removed, which causes the buds for the flowers to never really develop. Never prune a crepe myrtle before it blooms. Crepe myrtle bloom time is just after the other flowering trees.

What will kill crepe myrtles?

Answer: To stop the crape myrtle from coming up from the roots you can apply a phenoxy herbicide product like Dicamba or 2,4D. The herbicide will kill the roots too. You can also use sucker stopper which is a plant growth regulator.

How do you revive a crepe myrtle tree?

Reviving Crepe Myrtle After Neglect

1. Since it is summer now you want it to push some new growth so you can see the tree’s strengths.
2. Use a normal tree and shrub fertilizer and apply it a foot or two away from the trunk and close to its source or sources of water.

Will vinegar kill crepe myrtle?

To remove suckers at the base of a trunk, use a hatchet to hook around the suckers and pull them off. Using Epsom salt & vinegar to help with trunk. ( I can‘t grind b/c of location.) The only way to kill a crepe myrtle is to have the stump removed.

Can you use Epsom salt on crepe myrtles?

Two: In order for your Crape Myrtle to bloom you may want to try this cocktail (for the Crape Myrtles, not you) Mixone tablespoon of Epsom Salts into one gallon of water and pour around the roots of the plant. Repeat for the others, using one gallon per plant.

What type of fertilizer do crepe myrtles like?

To maximize spring growth and summer bloom, gardeners should fertilize their crape myrtles in early spring just prior to new growth. Fertilizers like 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 will work fine and are ideal for crape myrtles but you shouldn’t go over board.

What is the difference between a crepe myrtle bush and a crepe myrtle tree?

What’s the difference between a crape myrtle tree and a crape myrtle bush? The only difference is the mature size. The best way to identify a specific variety or species of crepe myrtle is to note all its characteristics, including mature size, flower color, fall color, growth habit (tree or shrub) and bark color.