How to Prune Crepe Myrtle?
- Keep only several trunks. First thing first, keep only several main trunks. ...
- Cut the trunks and suckers all the way back. When you cut additional trunks and suckers, make sure that you cut them all the way back. ...
- Remove low branches. How high or low the branching depends on your objectives. ...
- Thin the upper part. ...
- Remove weak growth and dead branches. ...
How to properly prune a crape myrtle?
To properly prune a mature crepe myrtle, you need three tools:
- Hand pruners to clip twigs and branches less than 1/2-inch thick.
- Loppers to cut branches 1/2-inch to 1-1/2 inches thick
- Pole pruners or a pruning saw to cut branches more than 1-1/2 inches thick.
How to properly prune crapemyrtles?
Lower limbs of crape myrtle are removed to increase clearance for pedestrians or vehicles. Other pruning may be conducted to remove crossing branches, remove suckers from the base of the plant, direct growth away from structures, and remove spent flowers, seed capsules, and dead or damaged branches and twigs.
Should you trim crape myrtles?
Yes, prune them, by limbing up the tree. What if branches have grown and are touching a structure, or a roof, can they be pruned? Yes. When is the best time to trim or cut back crepe myrtles? Early spring before new growth is the best time to prune crape myrtles. Whenever you prune, you cause the tree to generate new growth.
When is the best time to trim crape myrtle bushes?
When Is the Best Time to Trim Crape Myrtle Bushes & Trees?
- February to March. Late winter or early spring, after the last frost, is usually the time to do any major pruning of crape myrtles.
- Late Fall. Some people prune off dead wood and cut branches from their crape myrtles late in the fall before the first frost and after the last of the blooms ...
- Pruning. ...
- Pollarding. ...
- After Blooming. ...
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How far down can you cut crepe myrtles?
Cut the tree back to within one to two inches of the ground while the tree is dormant. After two to three weeks of growth, select three to five of the most vigorous new shoots on each trunk and remove all others.
What if my crepe myrtle is too tall?
If your crape myrtle does become too tall for its location, you can prune the tree back to a more appropriate height- just don't make this a regular practice each year. It will take a little more time to prune correctly, but you will end up with a beautiful tree.
What month should crepe myrtles be cut back?
February is a good time to prune crape myrtles. It should be done before fresh growth appears in March. Its toughness makes crape myrtle a popular plant. They are fast-growing and highly adaptable.
Can you cut crepe myrtles way back?
3:145:38How To Prune Crape Myrtles Without Murdering Them | NatureHills.comYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThere's not much you need to do on a crape myrtle. Really what we're trying to do is just expose theMoreThere's not much you need to do on a crape myrtle. Really what we're trying to do is just expose the trunk make that trunk you look make that beautiful trunk part of the character in the tree.
What happens if you don't cut back crepe myrtles?
Leaving it alone will result in a pretty raggedy-looking tree, and it won't grow as quickly either. The new growth will emerge on its own from the fresh cuts, and if you trim at just the right point, you'll encourage way more blooms to appear.
How do you keep crepe myrtles small?
Remove extraneous or interior branches that might cross between trunks or rub against each other, cut low branches to encourage vertical growth and prune unwanted new trunks to the ground. Eliminate any growth equal to or less than pencil width to prioritize nutrients to the main branches.
How do you shape a crape myrtle?
Selectively prune upper branches along each stem to shape a flowing, open canopy. Remove branches that cross one another or grow through the interior of the crown. As the crapemyrtle grows, continue to remove lower branches and any suckers that emerge from the base of the plant.
Can you cut crepe myrtles 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.
What tools can you use to prune crape myrtles?
You're best off using anvil- or bypass-type hand pruners for cutting through crape myrtle branches with a diameter of up to 3/4 inch. Lopping shears, or loppers, have longer handles for greater leverage and reach, and can cut through branches up to 1 3/4 inches in diameter.
Can you cut crepe myrtles back in the summer?
Pruning crepe myrtles in summer is not the optimal time of year to trim your trees, unless you wait until after they bloom. Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.) signal the beginning of summer with a profusion of colorful flower clusters.
Can you trim crepe myrtles with a chainsaw?
The good news is most Crape Myrtles can be pruned with hand held shears or long handles loppers. If yours are way out of control, then a chainsaw might be necessary in the most extreme cases.
Why are my crepe myrtles not blooming?
Fertilizer. If that crape myrtle is getting plenty of sunshine and still not blooming, it could be a lack of phosphorus. Checking the soil around the tree may prove this out. OR too much nitrogen may be the problem; both of these situations cause no blooms.
Available Mature Sizes
Crape myrtle is a typically low-maintenance plant. Choosing the cultivar best suited for the landscape situation prior to planting is the best way to ensure it doesn’t become a maintenance nightmare. Crape myrtles are available in dwarf & semi-dwarf shrub sizes, as well as small, medium, and large tree selections.
Excessive Pruning
The practice of chopping off the tops of crape myrtles, known as ‘topping’ is, unfortunately, very commonplace. Topping has been aptly named ‘Crape Murder’ by gardeners due to the murderous affect to the plants appearance resulting from the severe nature of the pruning.
Improving the Shape & Structure
Crape myrtle prefers hot, sunny climates and in South Carolina may grow to tree-size proportions. It is important tree types are sited where they have a large area to spread. When given an ideal location, these tree types should be allowed to develop their natural style without whacking off their tops.
Seed Heads
When removing seed heads or heading back a branch, make the cut just above a lateral bud.
Flowering
Flowers on crape myrtle are produced on new growth. Although it will produce larger flowers and bloom more profusely if lightly pruned, crape myrtle will produce plenty of flowers without any pruning. If pruning is necessary to stimulate new growth, prune in late winter or early spring.
Overgrown Plants
A common misconception is that a tree will flower better if severely pruned. This photo shows the flowering of a pruned (left) versus an unpruned (right) tree.
When you prune your Crape Myrtle the proper way it will will maximize blooms, promote new growth and give your plant a great shape
That said.. Your pruning is done in winter when the Crape Myrtle is dormant, between the months of December and February.
Simply put .. the "Suckers" are the new growth that comes from the base of the trunk
Most professional lawn care services and homeowners who know what they are doing will prune these off.
The Single Trunk
In my opinion , the single trunk Crape Myrtle is one of the more beautiful shapes the tree can take on with proper pruning, however, will require the most investment in pruning each year.
Multi-Trunk
The multi trunk look for Crape Myrtles is probably the most common professional trimming approach. It is relied upon by lawn care services all over the country to establish beautiful Crape Myrtle bushes full of blooms each spring and summer for their clients.
