Table of Contents
When should crepe myrtles be trimmed?
Early spring before new growth is the best time to prune crape myrtles. Whenever you prune, you cause the tree to generate new growth. New growth that starts now will not have time to harden off before frost.
Where do you cut 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).
Can you cut a crepe myrtle below the knot?
Cutting crepe myrtle knots doesn’t resolve the problem. If you cut below the knot, a new knot forms in its place. The tree never reverts to its naturally beautiful shape, but through proper pruning of a crepe myrtle tree, you may be able to make the knots less noticeable.
Can I cut my crepe myrtle to the ground?
Crepe myrtles will grow back when cut, although it isn’t necessary to prune them all the way down to the ground.
How tall should a crepe myrtle be?
The common crapemyrtle grows to a height of 15–25′ and a spread of 6–15′ at maturity.
Can you cut crepe myrtles in April?
A rule of green thumb: The ideal time to prune will be late winter, February or March, however you can wait until April to prune your Crape Myrtle if you live in milder growing zones.
What kills crepe myrtle?
Triclopyr. Triclopyr-based herbicides cause supressed or abnormal growth that disrupts and eventually kills the crape myrtle. The herbicide may be applied to the foliage, the roots, or both. As with other broadleaf herbicides, crape myrtle trees absorb the poison and circulate it, causing the tree to die.
Do crepe myrtles need lime?
Crape myrtles like a soil pH of 6.0-6.5. This is considered slightly acid. You can lower the soil pH with sulfur products and raise the pH with lime products. But always do this based on the results of a soil test.
Do crepe myrtles have deep roots?
Crepe myrtle roots do not sink taproots deep into the ground or send lateral roots out to crack anything in their path. In fact, the entire crepe myrtle root system is shallow and fibrous, spreading out horizontally up to three times as far as the canopy is wide. The crepe myrtle is no exception.
Can you trim crepe myrtles with a chainsaw?
You must understand a Crepe Myrtle is a tree, not a shrub. Therefore, do not take a chainsaw and cut all limbs off shoulder high. Since Crepe Myrtles can grow to over 24′ tall, try to never plant the tree too close to a building because as it grows the first thing that will come to mind is cutting it back.
When should Crepes be pruned?
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.
How close can I plant a crepe myrtle to my house?
As a general rule of thumb, plant crape myrtles of this mature size a minimum of 8 to 10 feet from a building wall, and farther if you can. This spacing gives the plant room to expand to its full size. It will naturally tend to grow away from the wall and toward the light.
How hard is it to dig up a crepe myrtle?
Moving crepe myrtles requires a bit of digging. First, dig out a new planting hole. It has to be large enough to fit all of the tree’s current roots, but somewhat wider, to allow those roots to expand. Dig around the outside of the roots, taking a root ball that is some 2 to 3 feet (.
Are coffee grounds good for crepe myrtle?
The answer is yes! Coffee grounds make an excellent ground mulch, especially for acid-loving plants.
Should you deadhead crepe myrtle trees?
Many varieties of crape myrtles can be encouraged to bloom a second time, but timing is important. Deadheading crape myrtles (removing dead or dying flowers) encourages new sprouts and blooms, but if you deadhead too late in the season, the tender new growth that is produced can be damaged by cold weather.
Should you mulch around a crepe myrtle tree?
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.
How far from a fence should you plant a crepe myrtle?
If you are planting a row of crape myrtles to create a privacy screen, you’ll want to leave at least three feet from your property line or fence. Five feet is recommended for larger types, as you’ll want to ensure you have control over the growth and pruning of your tree.
How long do crepe myrtles live?
Lifespan of Crepe Myrtle Crepe myrtles live quite a few years if you take care of them. A crepe myrtle lifespan can exceed 50 years. So that’s the answer to the question “how long do crepe myrtle trees live?” They can live a good, long time with suitable care.
Why are my crepe myrtles not blooming?
If no flowers appear, it can be because the tree was pruned late in the season, mistakenly removing the new wood which causes the buds for the flowers to never really develop. Never prune a crape myrtle BEFORE it blooms.
What is a pruning saw?
Definition of pruning saw : a saw that has a usually tapering straight or curved blade and either a closed or an open and sometimes folding handhold and that may or may not be attached to a pole.
