Fixing A Crepe Myrtle That Is Not Blooming

You can go to a local nursery and purchase a crepe myrtle tree with plenty of blooms and plant it only to find that it is living, but doesn't have many blooms on it.

Why is my crepe myrtle tree not blooming?
How do I bring my crepe myrtle back to life?
What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?
Is Epsom salt good for crape myrtles?
What is best fertilizer for crepe myrtles?
Are you supposed to cut back crepe myrtles?
What can kill a crepe myrtle?
How do you know when a crepe myrtle is dying?
How far down can you cut crepe myrtles?
Can I cut my crepe myrtle to the ground?
How do you shape a crepe myrtle tree?
How many trunks should a crape myrtle have?

Why is my crepe myrtle tree not blooming?

White flies and other insect also can cause problems for crape myrtles. – Improper pruning. Drastic pruning or pruning after new spring growth can delay summer flowering. Drastic pruning, in fact, may promote excessive growth and less flowering.

How do I bring my crepe myrtle back to life?

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 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.

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.

What is best fertilizer for crepe 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.

Are you supposed to cut back crepe myrtles?

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. ... The seed heads from last year can remain on the plant all year, and you will still get good blooming in the current year.

What can kill a crepe myrtle?

Glyphosate kills virtually any plant it touches. Herbicides containing glyphosate may be painted on freshly cut stumps or sprayed onto the foliage to kill the crape myrtle. Trim the cut end of older stumps to expose the wood surface before applying glosphate. Spray the foliage and branches of intact crape myrtles.

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.

How far down can you cut crepe myrtles?

Select four or five well-spaced main trunks; remove any others at ground level. Train these trunks to grow upward and outward from the base of the plant. As they grow taller, gradually remove all side branches up to a height of four to five feet.

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.

How do you shape a crepe myrtle tree?

Cut off suckers from the bottom, rubbing and cross growing branches and branches growing inward. Gradually cut off all side branches from the main base as the tree gets taller. Never leave lone or clustered stubs. Be sure to remove unwanted branches before they get too thick (thickness of a pencil).

How many trunks should a crape myrtle have?

For most crape myrtles, choose three, five, or—at most—seven main trunks. An odd number of trunks is more pleasing to the eye than an even number, which often looks like soldiers in formation. Keep trunks that have ample space to grow and are growing straight and strong.