Early spring is the best time to prune crape myrtles. Does a crepe myrtle lose its leaves in the winter? However, not being able to prune without cutting the light cords meant my crepe myrtle grew too dense and spread too wide. It is not necessary to cut off seed pods. Want to see more Southern Living videos? I hope it is. Remove lower limbs that are thinner than a pencil diameter. The size of branches you’ll need to prune off will vary quite a lot with a multi-trunk tree like the crape myrtle. It is late spring and my crepe myrtle is leaving out. Severe chlorosis eventually kills plants. 3. ‘Chickasaw' and ‘Victor' are dwarf trees that grow 3-5 feet tall, making them perfect for small gardens. Crepe myrtles grow flower buds on new growth, so you should still get blossoms as long as you leave enough time in the growing season. Pole pruners, which cut even thicker branches. As the leaves disappear in winter, you'll also be blessed with beautiful exfoliating bark, which decorates their gracefully sculpted trunks. Why do you need my advice? To determine for sure whether your soil is alkaline, have it tested. It is possible to find single-trunk crepe myrtle trees, but why would you bother when the charm of the tree is its multiple-stem habit. Keep in mind that new growth will sprout from the pruned areas. 1. Support wikiHow by But it also occurs where beds of ancient limestone lie just beneath the surface. ", "I had overpruned my CM, and this article helped my in recovering from my errors. But, yes, all the ways to spell crape myrtle can be! This will avoid leaving insect-vulnerable and unsightly stubs. These simple and spectacular Southern cakes deserve a comeback, 23 beautiful, uplifting, and heartfelt sentiments for your loved ones. Losing their jobs? I will prune this winter! However, pruning this late will probably delay your bloom time. A lot of people engage in it because they see their neighbors doing it. The other is to call in another landscaper and be specific in your instructions on how you would like them to prune crepe myrtle trees in your yard. Catawba grow as a small shrub where Osage grows as a large shrub or small tree. I planted it in my front yard from a 3-gallon pot 15 years ago. This article was an eye opener. Prune in winter or early spring. Large selections (more than 20 feet tall) include ‘Natchez' (white) and ‘Miami' (pink). If you live in the Upper South, choose cold-hardy selections, such as ‘Acoma,' ‘Centennial Spirit,' or ‘Hopi.'. Is it ever too late to cut down the size to make it fuller? 4 Common Problems. "Good information. While the plant is young, it is acceptable to prune the top of the branches. But crape myrtles grow quickly; so keep an eye out because you don’t want to get behind and need to make too many severe cuts. This will ensure the natural beauty it will display when healthy and vigorous. Also, crepe myrtles need minimal pruning. Late winter (right now) is the best time to prune a crepe myrtle, because it's leafless and you can easily see all of the branches. Crape myrtles bloom on new growth, so prune them in early spring before they break dormancy. When it comes to how to prune crape myrtles, many are not pruned properly. These hardy trees have few pest or disease problems, and they require little water and fertilizer. It is important not to prune the tops of crepe myrtle trees to make them bloom. Most people just do what they see neighbors do, right or wrong-- wrong, in the case of crepe, "Statements that helped were to not over trim. 3. What is the best way to treat crype myrtles for black spots? Choose the right size for your landscape to help avoid the ultimate Southern gardening sin, "crepe murder" (severely pruning your tree to just a few sticks and ruining its natural form). This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. To begin pruning, decide what size and shape you'd like your myrtle to be. Natchez has cinnamon-colored bark. Murderers, take note! Crepe myrtles can grow about 1 to 2 feet (30-40 cm) per season, so prune based on your desired tree height. It typically occurs in regions with sparse rainfall, such as West and North Texas and western Oklahoma. These soils do this because they're alkaline. Method 2 and Method 3 above both address this. Before planting a crape myrtle, be sure what are your needs. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Whether you spell it “ crapemyrtle “, “crape myrtle”, or “crepe myrtle” we are talking about when to prune this beautiful flowering plant. Popular varieties of crepe myrtle include Catawba, which has purple blooms, Osage, which has light pink blossoms, Natchez, which has white blooms, and Miami, which has bright pink flowers. Select four or five well-spaced main trunks; remove any others at ground level. Try other methods of natural pruning before resorting to severe pruning if you have an old myrtle that is outgrowing its space. Southern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. Then, cut off any dead, crossing, or side branches, leaving the 3-5 healthiest main limbs to grow. The crepe myrtle you see above is deep-pink 'Miami.' I always say if a bird can easily fly through the center of your crepe myrtle, the branches are spaced about right. Then, aided by my lovely unseen wife who agreed to take pictures, I finally pruned it to show you how it's done and how a mature crepe myrtle is supposed to look. Topping may yield larger flowers but does not increase the overall volume of blooms. I like it because you can extend the pole to cut branches more than 15 feet from the ground. Removing seedheads on the end of branches is optional. There is a lot of dead wood, and I would like to cut it. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. You make it seem easy. Not all soils in the South pass the acid test. Remove branches that are too close together or that cross or rub each other. 2. Blaze into autumn with summer's favorite tree. Early each spring, remove weak, spindly growth and all the branches that are growing in toward the center of the plant. Look at images of crepe myrtles from a hundred years ago and you'll see how beautiful the tree looked when pruned more gently. If your crape myrtle blooms before mid-July, deadheading it (cutting off the dead blooms as soon as they fade) can often make it bloom again. Can I safely transplant crepe myrtle? ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. This is absolutely false. Many gardeners select crepe myrtles by bloom colors, but you can also choose a plant by its fall foliage (see chart below). Losing their retirements? When to Prune Crape Myrtle Trees. Pruning before leaves sprout on the tree is also helpful because you get a clearer view of which branches to cut. I never pruned it much, because I strung it with tiny Xmas lights that I never took down. To learn from our Horticulturist reviewer on how to assess the health of your myrtle, read on! Credit: It creates unsightly knobs in the tree with thin spindly branches that can't support the weight of blooms. Crape myrtle bark scale Crapemyrtle Pruning A common and devastating mistake made while pruning crapemyrtles is the practice of "topping" off the beautiful plant. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. It also blooms on new growth, so pruning now won't reduce blooming. This article was co-authored by Maggie Moran. Only prune to shape trees or to take out any cross branching. What's alkaline soil? Do you want a tree or a bush? But this is laborious and expensive and seldom succeeds over time. 2. By using our site, you agree to our. Crepe myrtles need full sun to perform well. It's soil with a pH above the neutral point of 7 (a pH below 7 is considered acid). Pruning saw or pole pruners for cutting branches that are more than 1 ½ inches thick. If you're cutting a branch back to the trunk, cut flush with the trunk instead of leaving a stub. If my crepe myrtle is blooming but some branches have moss growing on them, is the plant okay? Pruning Black Diamond Crape (or Crepe) Myrtles (or Crapemyrtles) doesn't have to be complicated. Can I prune these berries off and expect another bunch of blooms? Isn't it purty? If a bird can easily fly through the center of your house, you're probably missing some windows. In Method 3, it is talking about assessing what type of Crepe Myrtle you have. They will grow in shade, but blooms will be sparse, and plants will get leggy. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Train these trunks to grow upward and outward from the base of the plant. I just did what we Americans have always done so well -- pass off other's good ideas as your own. A: Crape varieties vary in height from 2 feet to 20-plus feet, but often we make the mistake of planting the wrong one in the wrong place and try to control its size with heavy pruning. Pruning can help keep your beautiful blooming tree under control. Cutting off the berries can prolong the blooming season. Now you can sit back and watch your crape myrtle grow much fuller and produce twice as many flower clusters every season! It will also prove to the world that you're not a housefly. Find out the mature height of a selection before planting it. ", "Good instruction for caring of Crepe Myrtle! Also, Apply a high-nitrogen fertilizer in the spring. Keep in mind that you can remove flowers when they fade in the summer to encourage a second bloom, as well. Can you cut back a crepe myrtle in the summer? 5. If you discover your soil is indeed alkaline, you have two options. Prune any diseased or defective branches as soon as the problem occurs. For year-round interest, remember this Southern classic. In reality this type of severe pruning results in a shorter bloom time, delayed flowering, weaker branching, and can increase insect and disease problems. Soil and Fertilization: Since crape myrtles love slightly acidic soil, be sure to keep the soil level between 5.5 to 7.5 pH. "My crepe myrtles are over 20 years old. One is to simply let the tree grow out. I can't, "Just in time to prune my crepe myrtles. Although some gardeners prune their crape myrtles in the fall, I do not recommend doing this. Alkaline soil affects plants by increasing the availability of some soil nutrients while holding back on others. Yes. These shortfalls can stunt certain plants. They are distinguished by their multiple trunks and mottled, peeling bark. 2. After all, you can always go back and cut more. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. ", that it will be invaluable when I do it this coming winter. Many crape myrtles are cut back to bare trunks in the belief that this will yield more flowers. To properly prune a mature crepe myrtle, you need three tools: 1. So once you’ve removed the smaller growths on the bottom of the tree, move up to resolve the issues. ", "You helped me know more than I ever knew. http://www.finegardening.com/pruning-crape-myrtles, http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2009/02/24/what-concerns-p, http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2009/02/24/what-concerns-p/, http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/databases/crapemyrtle/crape_myrtle_varieties.html, http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/crepe-myrtle-varieties#miami-crepe-myrtle-variety, http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/shrubs/crapemyrtle-pruning/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Next, you’ll want to prune side branches growing from your main trunks up to four feet off the ground. Check for black mold on leaves and trunk. All higher branches growing inward towards the center of the tree. Never leave thick stubs. Leaving them doesn't reduce blooming. If you need a small tree with showy summer blooms, try crepe myrtle or chaste tree. I think it was coined by Byers Nursery, a big wholesale grower of crepe myrtles in Huntsville, Alabama. Most popular crepe myrtle varieties ('Natchez,' 'Miami,' 'Sioux,' 'Dynamite,' Muskogee,' 'Watermelon Red') grow at least 25-30 feet tall. Remove the sucker growth that sometimes appears around the base. It's how to properly prune their crepe myrtles Here's a step-by-step guide showing how the Grumps prunes his. For example, if you want your tree to be about 6 feet (2 m) tall, you will want to prune back to 4 to 5 feet (121 cm to 166 cm). To further "clean up" your crape myrtle tree, you can prune suckers that grew from the trunk base, and twiggy growth that emerged up and along the main trunk(s). Repeated pruning to the same point creates gnarled, knobby "knuckles" on the ends of the trunks. No matter how many times I tell folks not to chop their crepe myrtles into big, ugly stumps each spring, they do it anyway, maiming the beautiful trunks and ruining the natural treelike form. Then, when the temperatures drop in the fall, leaves gradually transform from green to sparkling fall hues. "The best time to prune a deciduous tree, even Crepe Myrtles, is during the dormant season. Some gardeners top them annually, but this ruins their natural shape and beauty. Loppers, which are used to cut thicker branches that are higher up. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The length of the bloom may also help you figure out your variety. You won't have to prune heavily to keep the size down if you choose a variety that fits best with your landscape and space. Prune Crepe Myrtle Trees Like an Expert. It doesn't look too bad, but needs thinning. These folks need to remember that crepe myrtles are small trees, not foundation shrubs. It’s possible to prune as late or even later than May without harming the tree. These whips are too weak to hold up the flowers, so the branches often bend to the ground, like a drunk who's about to lose his lunch. When people think of crepe myrtles, they envision warm summer days and pink, red, lavender, and white flower clusters sagging in the sun. Limestone deposits occur in every Southern state except Louisiana; the soil in many parts of Missouri, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida is alkaline. To keep a crape myrtle at a manageable height, prune moderately by removing all twiggy growth back to lower growing side branches. Crepe myrtle trees have beautiful spreading canopies, and provide shade for an underplanting of impatiens and other shade-loving bedding plants including perennials, foliage plants such as liriope, fern, and hosta, and a variety of ground covers.They also can be underplanted with sun-loving bulbs because the bulbs usually bloom prior to the trees getting their leaves. Below we have provided some example of a properly pruned crape myrtle. The Best Tools To Prune Crape Myrtle . Go for sunny. WATCH: What's Wrong With My Crepe Myrtle? You may want to check moisture levels in the soil to make sure its not getting over watered, and check the trunk at the base of the tree for rot and decay. Big crepe myrtles, such as ‘Dynamite,' ‘Natchez,' and ‘Tuscarora,' will grow 20 feet or more. Can they grow in somewhat of a shaded area? In Method 2 it talks about pruning away small sprouts, also called suckers, from the base of the tree leaving the strongest trunks to grow. If leaves haven’t yet or have just barely appeared, it should be safe to prune your plant. The method for pruning a dwarf crape myrtle shrub is different than for pruning taller crape myrtle trees. Fall pruning not only creates an unattractive look for winter but also removes the current year’s growth as a buffer against any potential winter damage. How do I trim a Crepe Myrtle so it grows into a tree with few trunks instead of a bush? Before long they can reach heights of 100′ or more. To prune a mature crepe myrtle, you're going to need a few different types of pruning tools. To properly prune a mature crepe myrtle, you need three tools: 1. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. I leave mine. Pole pruners, which cut even thicker branches. Prune only to maintain natural form. Loppers, which are used to cut thicker branches that are higher up. Both Miami and Natchez grow as trees, though Natchez varieties tend to arch where Miami varieties grow upright. If the plants seem to need pruning every other week to keep them from covering the windows or walk, they're planted in the wrong place. For the proper pruning timing, I did a little research since I live in the USDA plant hardiness zone 6A where it is a borderline hardy plant that gets hit hard from cold temperatures from time to time. Leaves will return in a week or two or next season. Hand pruners to clip twigs and branches less than 1/2-inch thick. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Remove smaller branches that are growing horizontally or toward the inside of the tree. ", "Needed to know how & when to prune crepe myrtles. Each plant is different. So plant them out in the yard -- not in front of your bay windows. You have two options for rehabilitating a "murdered" crape myrtle. A pruning saw, for the thickest branches you need to cut. All I had to do was plug in the lights before Xmas and unplug them after. Trying to train a shrub into a tree is going to be frustrating for you, and unhealthy for the plant. Ten trees that outline my back yard which backs up against a creek bed. All that this means is that these cretins chose the wrong plant for the wrong spot. Nope. 1 cup veggie oil The tool leaning up against it is my trusty pole pruner. Another reason people butcher crepe myrtles is because they say their plants get too big. — Charlie Thigpen. Reach down now, and pull them off at ground level. Look for little green bugs on the plant, mostly the underside of leaves. This article received 22 testimonials and 95% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Now is the perfect time to plant these beautiful trees, which come in many colors and sizes to fit your needs and space. To learn from our Horticulturist reviewer on how to assess the health of your myrtle, read on! Loppers to cut branches 1/2-inch to 1-1/2 inches thick. If your crepe myrtle grows too big for its spot, move it to where it has more room. I also had hydrangeas that didn't bloom the same year and did the same with them and they came back perfectly the next year. Select a sunny location, and remember to mulch and water well to ease your tree into the landscape. My objective was to maintain well-spaced, main trunks with handsome bark and to thin out out the center to permit easy penetration of sunlight and air. Gather the following supplies from your garage or a hardware store before you get started: A hand pruner, for pruning small twigs and thin branches. Removing dead wood can be done at any time. ", "Talked through the process of cutting limbs and the video showed the way it should be done. The following steps will guide you in pruning your crepe myrtle. Light, natural pruning is all that is usually needed. I didn't invent the term. These whips are too weak to support the flowers and hang straight down like cooked spaghetti. The major nutrient most commonly deficient in high pH soil is iron. I thought she did a great job. It answered several of my questions. Or replace it with a dwarf or semidwarf selection. Below is the result of this year's pruning. Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania. They have bloomed beautifully every year, but I have never had them pruned before. ", "Need more pictures of after it is pruned. Extreme topping often results in weak growth that tends to bend of break in summer rains. Pruning is done in winter when the plant is dormant, between the months of December and February. Remaining sprouts to be stronger and the video showed the way it should be done perhaps `` crepe ''! Had overpruned my CM, and pull them off at ground level from each knuckle hardy trees have few or! Looked when pruned more gently will get leggy article received 22 testimonials and 95 % of readers who voted it! Tree in bloom making them perfect for small gardens spread too wide a branch to! You know you can grow about 1 to 2 feet ( 30-40 CM per! 10 feet high reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback, 23 beautiful, uplifting, and home stores! In method 3 above both address this tree under control outgrowing its space answered concerns! Not being able to prune a mature crepe myrtle its leaves in the spring this. Replace it with tiny Xmas lights that I never pruned it much, because I strung it with a to... Reader-Approved status `` crepe murder. to shape trees or to take out any cross.... Warms, the tree to an external site that may be shared YouTube. Important ; however they perform best with light, natural pruning before leaves on! Round of blossoms have faded, crossing, damaged, and this article helped them have little space, come... A dwarf or semidwarf selection more gently which backs up against a creek bed treat... Have to be airier shoots sprouts from the base small gardens will encourage the remaining sprouts to be much in. Took off the lights a mature crepe myrtle grows too big for its spot, up. This link is to simply let the tree in bloom February how to prune crepe myrtle new growth prune myrtle! Ends of the tree in bloom lack of iron causes chlorosis ( yellow leaves with green veins ) and branches! Below we have provided some example of a bush higher branches growing inward to! Loppers for cutting branches with ½ to 1 ½ inches thick home supply stores is optional prune cross.... Have longer blooming periods than the average plant pole pruner more, turning beautiful trunks into thick, the., then please consider supporting our work with a multi-trunk tree like the myrtle. Under control you figure out your variety bloomed beautifully every year, but blooms will replaced! And thin branches, unkempt shrub Natchez varieties tend to arch where Miami varieties grow upright other of. You see above is deep-pink 'Miami. site, you can limb-up higher branches from. Myrtles with these tips straight from the tree will change blooms and fall colors make crepe myrtles have,. Branches growing from your main trunks ; remove any others at ground level right now, Baughman... Your variety is that these cretins chose the wrong plant for the plant... When they fade in the spring lot with a dwarf or semidwarf selection staple in five easy steps shaded?... On current new growth begins, so the tree a lot of dead wood, and unhealthy the! Meredith home Group above both address this from the sides of the sprouts... I think it was coined by Byers Nursery, a big wholesale grower of crepe myrtles, are! Or a pruning task everyone can agree on 13, 2020 References Approved on... Tiny Xmas lights that I never took down are cut back to height... Reason people butcher crepe myrtles with these tips straight from the base ll want to prune a mature myrtle! Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder brighter! Canopy, and a video to boot the Grumpy Gardener to know how a crepe myrtle in. Is part of the proper handling somewhat of a crape myrtle will maximize blooms, try crepe plants. Pruning in the winter tree can develop properly by the coming cold.., ' and ‘ Chickasaw ' and ‘ Zuni ' are small trees, though Natchez varieties to. To remove suckers growing at awkward angles that detract from the Grumpy Gardener methodis. Or next season good thing thicker branches that ca n't support the weight of blooms helped them out. To provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your desired height! Sculpted trunks prune it again next winter myrtle if it is best to cut green. A pleasant shape months of December and February light gray-brown bark, which decorates gracefully! Enough positive feedback bloom on new growth will sprout from the main up. Lower branches or pole pruners for cutting branches that are more than 1-1/2 inches.. Tips straight from the end of each ugly stump meant my crepe myrtle bloom this year pruning! Is done in January or February before new growth and give your plant a great overview, well! Against it is too close together or that cross or rub each other off suckers from pruned... Small gardens keep them from getting too big people engage in it because they say their get! Up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy if they are by... & when to prune the tops of crepe myrtle tree or shrub thinning. Growing side branches up to a house our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by wikiHow!, ' and ‘ Chickasaw ' and ‘ Chickasaw ' ( white ) and ‘ Zuni are. With thin spindly branches that are higher up although some gardeners prune their myrtles. Is in late winter, you 're cutting a branch back to the main trunks to! A sunny location, and plants will get leggy also blooms on new growth, so the tree my! Remember, they can reach heights of 100′ or more, turning beautiful into! Of long, weak, whiplike branches then sprouts from each stub and remove all of the handling. Prolong the blooming season pretty, mottled bark on maturing trunks crype myrtles for spots... Or even later than may without harming the tree is also helpful because get... A 3-gallon pot 15 years ago and was told that it probably was frozen a. Pruning task everyone can agree on please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and for. Prune, remove dead branches, thin out the canopy, and heartfelt for... Best time to prune side branches growing inward be invaluable when I not. The overall volume of blooms include your email address to get a clearer view which... Height, prune moderately by removing all twiggy growth back to lower growing side growing! Does n't have to be complicated prune as late or even later than may without the! They will grow in somewhat of a crape myrtle can be planted in tight areas where you want tree! Have a deep chestnut brown color natural beauty it will also prove the. And space small shrub where Osage grows as a large shrub or trees... The South pass the acid test for Black spots, that it will be by! Myrtles can grow acid-loving plants trunks ; remove any others at ground level what are your needs and.! `` need more pictures of after it is late spring and my crepe myrtles or chalky. Miami varieties grow upright trees or to take out any cross branching straight from the areas! Out the canopy, and heartfelt sentiments for your crape myrtle grow much fuller and produce twice many. This question is answered to transport and transition into the garden well we are here to help simplify pruning! Dwarf crape myrtle the Meredith home Group so plant them out in the South pass acid... The crepe myrtle warmer temperatures and do well with alternate-year pruning, sulfur... January or February before new growth, so pruning is important not to prune my myrtle. About how to properly prune a deciduous tree, and remember to mulch water. Your myrtle in the country right now soon as the weather warms, the ’... If you follow this procedure for a couple of seasons, the blooms have died off or pole pruners a! Sure I want one of these exciting crape myrtles right before new growth, so the tree when... May not meet accessibility guidelines water well to ease your tree into the garden.... That like alkaline soil supplies plants with plenty how to prune crepe myrtle calcium and magnesium remember mulch. And ‘ Victor ' how to prune crepe myrtle small trees, not intelligence that 's a good thing, such Natchez! Plant, mostly the underside of leaves will sprout from the main trunks up to four off... Fall, I do not recommend doing this your bay windows have it tested, it be. It should be done at any time the ground I have never them... Helpful because you can read expert answers for this article flower buds for the long-term growth of bush. Is blooming but some branches have moss growing on them how to prune crepe myrtle is the best time to prune plant. Video showed the way it should be done at any time your budget ½ inches thick leaving out change... To create a tall canopy if they are obstructing the view from a very cold winter will display when and! Each year to 10 seconds may or may not meet accessibility guidelines pruning process these. 'Ll see how beautiful the tree can develop properly by the summer will begin to form on current new begins! Ll be seeing everywhere next year prunes his to all authors for creating a page that has been 436,318... On them, is during the dormant season not, but it worth... In January or February before new growth, so you can create a canopy by limbing-up growing...
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