You want to prune the trees before any new growth appears, while waiting long enough that you arent having harsh winter conditions. How and when to prune crape myrtles todays homeowner. Pruning code violations palm beach gardens, fl official website. Controlling crepe myrtle height by pruning home guides. Effectively controlling the height of this plant, which grows in u. You may have been pruning your crepe myrtles lagerstroemia indica the wrong way from the beginning. Crape myrtles are hardy durable trees, they stand up to heat and. The best time to prune your crape myrtles in texas is during the late winter or early spring. 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.
A common and devastating mistake made while pruning crapemyrtles is the practice of topping off the beautiful plant. Crepe myrtle or crape myrtle lagerstroemia indica is a shrub or tree you may love or you may hate. Southern living celebrates the best of life in the south, both in our content and through. Prune a crape myrtle to remove suckers growing at the base, or if it is too close to a house. When to prune the crepe myrtle tree in this case is shortly after the trees first round of blossoms have faded. Crepe murder is when you prune trees or shrubs into ugly stumps. Many people prune their crape myrtles improperly thinking it will improve the shape and appearance of the tree or lead to more flowers. If youre new to pruning shrubs and trees, its crucial to figure out which category your plants fall into. 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. 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. Crape myrtles are summerblooming trees, so prune them before then. Introduction description planting watering light requirements pruning fertilizing propagating diseases and. Crepe myrtles can grow about 1 to 2 feet 3040 cm per season, so prune based on your desired tree height. Enjoy your dwarf myrtle s lagerstroemia indica decorative beauty year after year with the added benefit of minimal pruning. The best time to prune crape myrtles depends on when it blooms. How to prune crape myrtles without totally destroying them. How to prune a crape myrtle a step by step guide youtube. February is a great time to prune the crape myrtle tree. How to prune crepe myrtles southern living youtube. Learn how to properly prune your crepe myrtles with these tips straight from the grumpy gardener. Improper shaping is prohibited of a silver buttonwood.
How to trim a crepe myrtle bush home guides sf gate. While many crape myrtles will grow to 30 feet, there are dwarf varieties that grow to 6 feet maximum and semi. Crepe myrtle pruning i know this isnt the ideal way to do it but when the crepe myrtles are close to a. Jim robbins shows the proper techniques for pruning your landscape. I want to help people develop a healthy case of prune ophobia. I want to help people develop a healthy case of pruneophobia. Crepe myrtle pruning how to trim crepe myrtles youtube. There are many reasons not to prune your crape myrtles. 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. Crape myrtles must be properly pruned on an annual basis in order to achieve the following benefits. Topping may yield larger flowers but does not increase the overall volume of blooms. New magic for flemings including stunning new red flowering crepe myrtles.
However, this severe annual pruning is really not needed. Remove branches that are too close together or that cross or rub each other. Does pruning a crepe myrtle branch that is thicker than a. Aside from those guidelines, you can prune your crepe myrtle to a shape and size that works for your yard. Early spring is the best time to prune crape myrtles. This compact shrub, flowering in shades such as white, pink and red. The ultimate goal with crape myrtles is to have a permanent. It is important not to prune the tops of crepe myrtle trees to make them bloom.
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