Crepe Myrtle Trees Tips For Crepe Myrtle Care

Sunlight and well-draining soil afford a wealth of summer blooms and help keep pests away. Newly planted crepe myrtles should be well-watered until roots are established and are then mostly drought tolerant. Fertilizer is usually not necessary, unless blooms appear limited.

How do you take care of a crape myrtle tree?
What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?
What is the best fertilizer for crape myrtles?
Do crepe myrtle trees need a lot of water?
What month do you prune crepe myrtle trees?
What kills crepe myrtle?
How late can you prune crepe myrtles?
Should you trim crepe myrtles every year?
Should I deadhead crepe myrtle?
Is Miracle Grow good for crepe myrtles?
Is Epsom salt good for crape myrtles?
How can I make my crepe myrtle bloom more?

How do you take care of a crape myrtle tree?

How to Care for Crape Myrtle

Find Full Sunlight. Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive. ...
Use Suitable Soil. ...
Fertilize Lightly. ...
Treat Fungus Before It Starts. ...
Prune Sparingly in Winter or Early Spring. ...
Expose the Trunk for More Beauty. ...
Deadhead for Even More Flowers.

What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?

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.

What is the best fertilizer for crape myrtles?

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.

Do crepe myrtle trees need a lot of water?

For best growth and production, crape myrtle should receive at least one inch of water a week. During dry spells, water is mandatory. If not properly watered during dry spells, flowers may be mitigated. Keep at least 4 feet around the shrub clear of grass and weeds, for less competition for water.

What month do you prune crepe myrtle trees?

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.

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.

How late can you prune crepe myrtles?

It's not too late to prune your crape myrtles now. While we consider late winter to be the ideal time to prune crape myrtles, now (early spring) is also OK for pruning them.

Should you trim crepe myrtles every year?

Growing Conditions

Also, crepe myrtles need minimal pruning. Some gardeners top them annually, but this ruins their natural shape and beauty. ... Only prune to shape trees or to take out any cross branching. In the winter, you can remove old seedpods by clipping the tips of branches.

Should I deadhead crepe myrtle?

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.

Is Miracle Grow good for crepe myrtles?

The easiest to use and most well known fertilizer is Miracle Gro. However, if you have many Crape Myrtles you wish to fertilize, using Miracle Gro can become expensive. ... When choosing a fertilizer for your Crape Myrtles, keep in mind that they are heavy feeders and are more prosperous when fed often.

Is Epsom salt good for crape myrtles?

Crape Myrtles bloom with a dose of Epsom Salts. Two: In order for your Crape Myrtle to bloom you may want to try this cocktail (for the Crape Myrtles, not you) Mixone tablespoon of Epsom Salts into one gallon of water and pour around the roots of the plant. Repeat for the others, using one gallon per plant.

How can I make my crepe myrtle bloom more?

Crape myrtles need to have new growth each spring in order to produce summer flowers. These flowers come on current-season growth, so late winter/early spring fertilization can aid crape myrtle flowering in the summer. It is not too late to fertilize this year if you haven't yet.