Gardening Questions: Pruning a Crepe Myrtle

Replies: 10 Views: 158

Print

Author	Comment
lavender01 Mount Airy, NC October 4, 2009 10:46 PM	Could you please tell me how to prune a crepe myrtle? Here is a picture - it still has the "seedings" on the end of the branches View Larger
JulieQ Cullman, AL (Zone 7b) October 4, 2009 11:44 PM	How you prune it will depend on if you want it to look more shrub-like or more tree-like. I always like to see the interesting trunk/ bark, so I remove the "suckers" and lowest branches. You may end up with more than one main trunk. Branches that cross over each other in the center can be removed. You may not want to prune this time of year, however.
lavender01 Mount Airy, NC October 5, 2009 01:18 AM	What about the "seeds" on the ends of the branches - does all of this need to be cut back - it's getting big and right in front of a small building - would it hurt to cut off those?
JulieQ Cullman, AL (Zone 7b) October 5, 2009 03:21 AM	Hey lavender01, cut away if you don't like the way it looks, but heavy pruning is better done when all the leaves have fallen off. I had one in front of a window and I had to keep it heavily pruned. I ended up pruning it back a couple times during the growing season just to keep it in check. Then I pruned it pretty hard in late winter. It will reward you with big, gorgeous blooms.
brbbritt Charlotte, NC November 4, 2009 12:20 PM	Can new trees be started from the seedlings once they dry out? Thanks
ecrane3 Dublin, CA (Zone 9a) November 4, 2009 02:43 PM	You can start them from seed, but many crape myrtle cultivars won't come true from seed so it may not look like your parent plant (in size or flower color). The other issue with crapes is that many of the named cultivars have been bred for resistance to powdery mildew, and a seed grown one isn't guaranteed to retain that resistance. So cuttings are really the ideal way to propagate.
themoonhowl Prairieville, LA (Zone 9a) November 9, 2009 02:00 PM	Ecrane is correct about the seedlings, but, it seems like every seed that hits the ground here sprouts....every where we don't want them. grin When pruning, it is best to only remove suckers and low crossed branches and any deadwood. Cutting off the seed pods is a matter of choice, the tree will shed them and bloom just fine. here is some info on pruning them. http://www.learn2grow.com/gardeningguides/pruning/techniques... http://wilsonbrosnursery.com/How-To/Pruning-Instructions/How... http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/landscape/trees...
Jim41 Delhi, LA November 9, 2009 02:56 PM	I wouldn't top them as many do. Then them like has been suggested. In a couple of years they will be tall enough to open up the front of the building. You will really like the graceful appearance of them, especially in the winter.
peony01 Prattville, AL (Zone 8a) November 14, 2009 01:57 AM	Here's one approach to pruning crape myrtles: Prune up, not down. Prune to see through, not over. But always remember that it is your plant - not ours. Propagate from stem cuttings - they root easily.
SJ2 Stone Mountain, GA November 29, 2009 12:31 PM	Several in this neighborhood, in zone 7B, cut them to the ground and they come up as shrubs. I like seeing the different ways the crape myrtles look. It is lovely to see the trunks on the pruned-up approach.
Metrosideros Keaau, HI December 7, 2009 05:07 AM	Easy! Remove everything that is leggy, and not close to the central part of the bush.

You cannot post until you register and login.

Other Gardening Questions Threads you might be interested in:

Subject	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
Jalapeno in pots	nervjiggy	0	Mar 16, 2010 6:52 PM
Variegated flax lily question	BlkEyedSusan	2	Mar 16, 2010 6:08 PM

Other Forums you might be interested in:

Flowers

Gardening Questions

What's This Plant?