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Crepe myrtles are shrubs or small trees that produce large flowers in the summer. They are distinguished by their multiple trunks and mottled, peeling bark. They prefer warmer temperatures and do well in southern states. Crepe myrtles bloom from new growth, so pruning is important; however they perform best with light, natural pruning. The following steps will guide you in pruning your crepe myrtle.
Steps
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Gather pruning equipment. To prune a mature crepe myrtle, you're going to need a few different types of pruning tools. Gather the following supplies from your garage or a hardware store before you get started:
- A hand pruner, for pruning small twigs and thin branches.
- Loppers, which are used to cut thicker branches that are higher up.
- Pole pruners, which cut even thicker branches.
- A pruning saw, for the thickest branches you need to cut.
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Start to prune in the late winter or early spring. Crepe myrtles bloom on new growth, so it’s best to prune them in the late winter or early spring just before they come out of dormancy and send out new leaves and branches. Some gardeners prune in the fall, but this can remove the year’s new growth as a buffer against winter damage. [1] X Research source
- Crepe myrtles grow flower buds on new growth, so you should still get blossoms as long as you leave enough time in the growing season.
- If leaves haven’t yet or have just barely appeared, it should be safe to prune your plant. It’s possible to prune as late or even later than May without harming the tree. However, pruning this late will probably delay your bloom time.
- Pruning before leaves sprout on the tree is also helpful because you get a clearer view of which branches to cut.
- Keep in mind that you can remove flowers when they fade in the summer to encourage a second bloom, as well.
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Determine what shape and size you want the crepe myrtle to be. To keep a crepe myrtle healthy and beautiful, you want to prune with an eye toward opening up the middle of the tree to allow air to flow through more easily. Don't over-prune by lopping the trunks close to the ground. Aside from those guidelines, you can prune your crepe myrtle to a shape and size that works for your yard.
- Crepe myrtles can grow about 1 to 2 feet (30-40 cm) per season, so prune based on your desired tree height. For example, if you want your tree to be about 6 feet (2 m) tall, you will want to prune back to 4 to 5 feet (121 cm to 166 cm).
- Keep in mind that new growth will sprout from the pruned areas.
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Stand back and observe how the crepe myrtle is growing. Brutal knobbing (the method above) can produce a lot of blooms but it comes at the expense of the shape of the tree. This is because crepe myrtles will skin over and repair any place where a branch has been removed. Therefore, imagine that after you've pruned, whatever you leave behind will grow larger in both circumference and length each year.
- Look at images of crepe myrtles from a hundred years ago and you'll see how beautiful the tree looked when pruned more gently.
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Prune small sprouts at bottom of tree first. These are called "suckers." Left untrimmed, these will give your crepe myrtle a bushy appearance, and may compete with your main trunks for resources. Suckers can be pulled out when they first sprout or trimmed with a hand pruner. Leave the large, healthy, thick trunks to keep growing taller and stronger. [2] X Research source
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Cut side branches. Prune any branches coming out of side of the trunk up to about halfway up the trunk. This is called limbing-up, and helps the tree retain an attractive shape.
- For younger trees that you are starting to shape, prune the small limbs from the ground up, leaving only the 3-5 strongest limbs.
- Remove smaller branches that are growing horizontally or toward the inside of the tree.
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Prune out dead and crossing branches. You can use hand pruners for small, thin branches that you can reach, loppers for branches that are more than 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick, or a pole pruner for thicker or taller branches. Cut branches that are growing at an angle or that detract from the shape you are trying to achieve.
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Cut long or arching branches back to where they are no more than 1/2-inch in diameter. Branches that are too thin will still bloom, but they will not be able to bear the weight of the blooms and will droop or break. [3] X Research source
- If you're cutting a branch back to the trunk, cut flush with the trunk instead of leaving a stub.
- Use loppers for lower branches or pole pruners for the tall ones out of reach.
- It is not necessary to cut off seed pods. It won't affect blooming.
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Look at the flower color. There are dozens of varieties of crepe myrtle, and each has a different growing pattern that may impact how you want to prune it. One way to narrow down the type of crepe myrtle you are growing is to look at the color of the blossoms. This alone will not tell you what type of plant you have, but it can assist you in narrowing down your search. [4] X Research source
- Popular varieties of crepe myrtle include Catawba, which has purple blooms, Osage, which has light pink blossoms, Natchez, which has white blooms, and Miami, which has bright pink flowers. [5] X Research source
- The length of the bloom may also help you figure out your variety. Some crepe myrtle plants, such as Natchez and Osage, have longer blooming periods than the average plant.
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Check the bark color. Along with blossom color, the bark color of your crepe myrtle can help you figure out which variety you have. Bark may range in color from gray to brown, and may be muted or vibrant. Compare both bark and flower color to help you determine which crepe myrtle plant you are working with.
- Catawba has a light gray-brown bark, while Osage and Miami have a deep chestnut brown color. Natchez has cinnamon-colored bark.
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Evaluate the growing pattern. Crepe myrtles can grow in number of ways, and the nature of their growth will impact you you trim them. Some varieties grow like small trees, while others as small, compact shrubs, and others still grow as broad, spreading shrubs. Look at how your crepe myrtle grows to determine how you want to prune it.
- Catawba grow as a small shrub where Osage grows as a large shrub or small tree. Both Miami and Natchez grow as trees, though Natchez varieties tend to arch where Miami varieties grow upright.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan you cut back a crepe myrtle in the summer?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.Sometimes, trimming only the dead flowers during the summer months can bring about a second blooming period.
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QuestionHow do you prune hydrangeas?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.The best time is in late winter or early spring. Hydrangeas are one of the few shrubs that can be cut back to ground level. One benefit to doing this is that they will produce larger blooms each year.
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QuestionHow do you prune crepe myrtle?Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.You prune in early spring before the plant comes out of winter sleep. The crepe myrtle blossoms on new growth, so trimming before that growth starts is the best way.
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Tips
- Light, natural pruning is all that is usually needed.Thanks
- Try other methods of natural pruning before resorting to severe pruning if you have an old myrtle that is outgrowing its space. You can create a canopy by limbing-up low growing branches.Thanks
- You can limb-up higher branches to create a tall canopy if they are obstructing the view from a window.Thanks
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Warnings
- Prune any diseased or defective branches as soon as the problem occurs.Thanks
- Severe pruning, sometimes referred to as "crepe murder," can weaken the tree and lead to damage and disease. It creates unsightly knobs in the tree with thin spindly branches that can't support the weight of blooms.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Hand pruners
- Loppers
- Pole pruners
References
- ↑ http://www.finegardening.com/pruning-crape-myrtles
- ↑ http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2009/02/24/what-concerns-p
- ↑ http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2009/02/24/what-concerns-p/
- ↑ https://aggie-hort.tamu.edu/databases/crapemyrtle/crape_myrtle_varieties.html
- ↑ http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/crepe-myrtle-varieties#miami-crepe-myrtle-variety
- http://www.walterreeves.com/landscaping/shrubs/crapemyrtle-pruning/
- http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2009/02/24/what-concerns-p/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To prune a Crepe myrtle, you'll need some pruning equipment, like a hand pruner for smaller branches and a pruning saw for larger branches. Plan to prune your myrtle in late winter or early spring, when it is best for the plant. To begin pruning, decide what size and shape you'd like your myrtle to be. Start pruning any small sprouts at bottom of tree first to keep it from looking bushy. Then, cut off any dead, crossing, or side branches, leaving the 3-5 healthiest main limbs to grow. To learn from our Horticulturist reviewer on how to assess the health of your myrtle, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My crepe myrtles are over 20 years old. Ten trees that outline my back yard which backs up against a creek bed. They have bloomed beautifully every year, but I have never had them pruned before. This article was an eye opener. I will prune this winter!" ..." more
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"My crepe myrtles are over 20 years old. Ten trees that outline my back yard which backs up against a creek bed. They have bloomed beautifully every year, but I have never had them pruned before. This article was an eye opener. I will prune this winter!"
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"Good information. Most people just do what they see neighbors do, right or wrong-- wrong, in the case of crepe murder. I had no idea how to care for these after buying a home where they were already years old and had been over-pruned many times."
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"Statements that helped were to not over trim. Do you want a tree or a bush? Great that I have a choice. I need to further investigate about acidic soil. Do not plant in alkaline soil. Go for sunny. I am now sure I want one of these bush/trees."
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"This article provides a great overview, as well as details about how to properly prune a crepe myrtle. I expect that it will be invaluable when I do it this coming winter."
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"I wasn't sure how to prune. This showed me to thin and prune cross branches. I usually only prune the top. I can't wait to try out my new knowledge."
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