How to Prune a Crepe.
The scientific name of the crepe myrtle tree is Lagerstroemia.This plant can be a tree or a shrub.It thrives in warm temperatures and is hardy through the Hardiness Zones of the USDA.In the Southern United States, it is a common sight in backyards and on residential streets.The tree is native to parts of Australia and Asia.
The leaves are bronze when they first emerge in the spring but develop to a deep shade of green by the summer.The bark of the tree sheds throughout the year to reveal new bark underneath.The flowers of crepe myrtle are very popular.It blooms in abundance in the summer and fall.White, red, and pink are some of the colors of crepe myrtle flowers.
The answer depends on the type of crepe myrtle you have and where you planted it.According to research done by the University of Florida, if a suitable crepe myrtle is selected and planted in an appropriate position, you should never have to trim it.
They have a rounded canopy which will often reach as low as the ground.Many crepe myrtle plants are not labeled at garden nurseries, so people end up planting in the wrong place, and when it outgrows this spot, it will have to be severely pruned to prevent it from interfering with other plants.
There are many types of crepe myrtle, with dwarf varieties that do not exceed three feet in height, through to large trees that can range in size from 30 feet to 100 feet.There are dwarfs that work well as low hedging or in borders.
If you follow the guidelines, your crape myrtle will be a very low maintenance plant.If you have a crepe myrtle that is taking up too much space in your yard, then you might want to have it trimmed.The term crepe murder was created because of the trend to cut back a crepe myrtle by completely lopping off the upper section.‘
Crepe murder compromises the structural integrity of the tree and results in stunted growth and reduced flowering.The crepe myrtle shoots will be thin and spindly, and unable to hold the weight of the flowers, giving it a sad, drooping appearance.If you find yourself in a position where you need to peck back your crepe myrtle, there are several options you can choose that will not harm your plant or leave you with an ugly winter stump on your lawn.
Pruning crepe myrtle depends on why you want to do it.It is possible to remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches at any time of the year and should be done as soon as you notice an issue.Prune after flowers are spent.In late winter, when the plant is in the final part of its dormant phase, it is a good time to trim.The tree will look unattractive through winter if heavyPruning is not avoided during fall.
Gardeners suggest that a crepe myrtle should be trimmed after it flowers again.New flowers will develop at the tips of the cut stems when the buds are stimulated.There are arguments for and against snaring flowers to encourage them to bloom.The ability to bloom for a long period of time is something that many modern crepe myrtles have been selected for.
If you have a crepe myrtle that produces long seasons of blooms, you may want to keep it that way.Crepe myrtles that have not been trimmed tend to flower more heavily, which is one reason to not trim it.Pruning crepe myrtles after flowering could be a good move if you want to achieve larger flower panicles.
Pruning away spent flowers will encourage a crepe myrtle to bloom again if it is not in flower for long.You can get three or even four bloom periods from your plant if you do this.Cut away spent blooms when they fade to fruits or seedpods to improve flower production.If you don't like the look of spent flowers or seedpods, this will tidy up your tree.Pruning the crepe myrtle is a good idea because the seedpods can be heavy and drag the tree branches under their weight.
Crepe myrtle can become densely branched if allowed to grow as it pleases, and some people may be concerned that this isn't good for the health of the tree.In older crepe myrtle varieties, the tree's branches should be trimmed to prevent disease.
Thinning out of twigs is no longer necessary since most modern crepe myrtles are disease resistant.If your crepe myrtle is getting too dense, you can remove some of the branches to allow more light in.This should be done during the winter when the tree is not active.
Younger branches that do not have a very thick diameter should be removed with sharp shears or a pruning saw.If you are happy with how your tree is performing, you don't need to do this every year.
If you have a large crepe myrtle tree that is growing in a position that doesn't fit its size, you'll need to do annualPruning to keep it at a manageable size.The best way to ensure good health is to remove the tips of the tree.While retaining an attractive look, tipping will reduce the size of the tree.If the tree is large and you can't reach all of it, it might be difficult to do this.