Crepe Myrtle Lifespan How Long Do Crepe Myrtle Trees Live

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.

What causes a crepe myrtle to die?
How do you know when a crepe myrtle is dying?
What is the oldest crepe myrtle?
What kills crepe myrtle?
Can you kill a crepe myrtle by pruning?
How do you revive a crepe myrtle tree?
What is the best fertilizer for crepe myrtle trees?
What happens if you don't prune a crepe myrtle?
Can I cut my crepe myrtle to the ground?

What causes a crepe myrtle to die?

Late last summer, rainy weather caused a massive outbreak of Cercospora leaf spot, a fungal disease. It caused the leaves of crape myrtles to turn yellow, orange or red and fall from the tree. Many trees were completely defoliated in late summer. ... Trees weakened last year are being hit again.

How do you know when a crepe myrtle is dying?

3 Signs Your Crepe Myrtle Is In Distress

Leaf Spot. Brown spots on the leaves of your crepe myrtle is most likely a fungus known as leaf spot disease. ...
Powdery Residue. White, powdery residue on the leaves and flowers of your tree is most likely mildew. ...
Mold. If you notice the leaves of your crepe myrtle have a sooty residue, you most likely have a mold issue.

What is the oldest crepe myrtle?

So it's no surprise that the oldest continually growing crape myrtle plant is located at Middleton Place, an estate, near Charleston. This antebellum plantation was begun in 1791 and is America's oldest landscaped garden.

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.

Can you kill a crepe myrtle by pruning?

This unsightly, ugly pruning known as crape murder is not recommended. Once it's done, it ruins the tree's graceful natural shape for the rest of its life. Often gardeners think they are supposed to prune their crape myrtles that way, and nothing could be farther from the truth.

How do you revive a crepe myrtle tree?

Reviving Crepe Myrtle After Neglect

Since it is summer now you want it to push some new growth so you can see the tree's strengths. ...
Use a normal tree and shrub fertilizer and apply it a foot or two away from the trunk and close to its source or sources of water.

What is the best fertilizer for crepe myrtle trees?

To maximize spring growth and summer bloom, gardeners should fertilize their crape myrtles in early spring just prior to new growth. Fertilizers like 8-8-8, 10-10-10, 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 will work fine and are ideal for crape myrtles but you shouldn't go over board.

What happens if you don't prune a crepe myrtle?

Flowers are not the only virtue of this tree. Many varieties have beautiful bark and growth habits that can be enjoyed all year if trees are not heavily pruned. This unsightly, ugly pruning known as crape murder is not recommended. Once it's done, it ruins the tree's graceful natural shape for the rest of its life.

Can I cut my crepe myrtle to the ground?

Crape myrtle tree sizes can range anywhere from miniature trees starting at 18 inches to large trees reaching 30 feet tall. ... Renewal pruning, or cutting the tree's base down to the ground, will allow the tree to have a fresh start, and it will rapidly grow back healthy and strong in two-three years.