Jim robbins shows the proper techniques for pruning your landscape. Controlling crepe myrtle height by pruning home guides. Crape myrtles are hardy durable trees, they stand up to heat and. Crape myrtles must be properly pruned on an annual basis in order to achieve the following benefits.
Many people prune their crape myrtles improperly thinking it will improve the shape and appearance of the tree or lead to more flowers. You may have been pruning your crepe myrtles lagerstroemia indica the wrong way from the beginning. When to prune the crepe myrtle tree in this case is shortly after the trees first round of blossoms have faded. Does pruning a crepe myrtle branch that is thicker than a. How to trim a crepe myrtle bush home guides sf gate. Effectively controlling the height of this plant, which grows in u. Enjoy your dwarf myrtle s lagerstroemia indica decorative beauty year after year with the added benefit of minimal pruning. I want to help people develop a healthy case of prune ophobia. Crepe myrtles can grow about 1 to 2 feet 3040 cm per season, so prune based on your desired tree height. There are many reasons not to prune your crape myrtles.
How to prune crepe myrtles southern living youtube. Introduction description planting watering light requirements pruning fertilizing propagating diseases and. Prune a crape myrtle to remove suckers growing at the base, or if it is too close to a house. February is a great time to prune the crape myrtle tree. We need to allow the crape myrtle to become the tree without cutting them. The best time to prune your crape myrtles in texas is during the late winter or early spring. Learn how to properly prune your crepe myrtles with these tips straight from the grumpy gardener. Crepe myrtle pruning how to trim crepe myrtles youtube. The best time to prune crape myrtles depends on when it blooms. You want to prune the trees before any new growth appears, while waiting long enough that you arent having harsh winter conditions.
Topping may yield larger flowers but does not increase the overall volume of blooms. I want to help people develop a healthy case of pruneophobia. Crepe murder is when you prune trees or shrubs into ugly stumps. Like many plants, a crepe myrtle tree can be encouraged to put forth a second round of blossoms through a practice called deadheading. Crepe myrtle or crape myrtle lagerstroemia indica is a shrub or tree you may love or you may hate. How to prune crape myrtles without totally destroying them. New magic for flemings including stunning new red flowering crepe myrtles. The ultimate goal with crape myrtles is to have a permanent.
Southern living celebrates the best of life in the south, both in our content and through. However, this severe annual pruning is really not needed. Learn about the best time for pruning crepe myrtles. Oklahoma gardenings kim rebek talks about different methods for pruning crapemyrtles and how each method affects the growth and health. A common and devastating mistake made while pruning crapemyrtles is the practice of topping off the beautiful plant. If youre new to pruning shrubs and trees, its crucial to figure out which category your plants fall into. Early spring is the best time to prune crape myrtles. Topping crape myrtles causes them to sucker more at the base, leading to more pruning and more work to remove the unwanted sprouts.
Crape myrtles are summerblooming trees, so prune them before then. Since crape myrtles bloom on new wood this years growth, its believed that whacking off all the branches will result in an extra flush of growth, and therefore more blooms. Remember that crepe myrtles can be grown as a standard, a miniature, a lowgrowing spreading plant, a small shrub, a small tree and even a large tree. How and when to prune crape myrtles todays homeowner. This compact shrub, flowering in shades such as white, pink and red.
Remove branches that are too close together or that cross or rub each other. While many crape myrtles will grow to 30 feet, there are dwarf varieties that grow to 6 feet maximum and semi. As crape myrtles pass their prime bloom season and begin to look a little shaggy, many people want to tidy them up to look neater through fall and into winter. It is important not to prune the tops of crepe myrtle trees to make them bloom. Improper shaping is prohibited of a silver buttonwood. Aside from those guidelines, you can prune your crepe myrtle to a shape and size that works for your yard.
1210 718 498 984 492 469 676 515 571 438 399 1038 548 444 1241 1002 34 293 16 1124 88 1216 1275 437 1291 1225 768 1254 564 917 797 877 1238 1315 442 362