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Crepe myrtles are summer flowering trees admired for their vibrant pink, red, purple, and white blossoms. Their natural beauty, resilience, and minimal need for tending make them a welcome addition to any yard or garden. Since the trees thrive in warm, humid conditions, they’ll do best in a well-drained patch of soil somewhere they can receive plenty of direct sunlight. Once you’ve planted your crepe myrtles, spread mulch around the base of the trunk to protect against moisture loss, apply a well-balanced fertilizer once a year, and water as needed to keep them producing healthy, flowers when they return each season.
Steps
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Plant crepe myrtles late in the year. The best time to raise crepe myrtles is in late fall, winter, or early spring, just after the plant's cold weather dormant season. You can also hold off until fall or winter roll around, provided you live in a region with mild temperatures where the ground does not regularly freeze.
- If you wait until fall or winter to plant your crepe myrtles, they won’t begin sprouting leaves until the weather warms up. [1] X Research source
- Avoid planting crepe myrtles at the tail end of summer. Without the necessary warmth, the tree won’t be able to survive.
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Pick out a sunny spot for your growing site. Crepe myrtles need lots of light to flourish. If possible, choose a location that receives a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. An open stretch near the center of your yard or garden is usually the best place to situate a young crepe myrtle. [2] X Research source
- Plant your crepe myrtle a sufficient distance away from your home, tall fence lines, and other objects that might cast too much shade.
- A crepe myrtle can be perfect for filling in sections of landscaping that are too hot or bright for more temperate plants. [3] X Research source
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Till the soil. In order for your crepe myrtle to successfully take root, it’s necessary to start with soil that’s loose and well-drained. Clear a patch roughly 3 feet (0.91 m) long by 3 feet (0.91 m) wide, taking care to remove any nearby vegetation that may compete for nutrients. Then, aerate the soil by breaking it up lightly using a shovel or rake. [4] X Research source
- Take the time to turn the soil down to its lower layers, rather than just loosening the topsoil.
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Amend dry soil with organic material to make it more hospitable. If the soil you’re growing on is particularly dense or sandy, it may be helpful to mix in a little peat moss or well-rotted manure. These additives help the soil retain key moisture and nutrients. You can also use garden compost or a few handfuls of native plant food, as long as it’s evenly distributed throughout the entire plant bed. [5] X Research source
- Crepe myrtle has no problem getting by on basic nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, which are found in most commercial fertilizer mixes.
- Inconsistent pockets of poorly-mixed fertilizer in the soil can stall the development of healthy roots.
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Bring the soil to a pH level between 6.0 and 7.3. You can increase the acidity of the soil by mixing in organic matter like manure or garden compost. To lower the acidity instead, add a small amount of ground agricultural lime. Use either substance sparingly and incrementally to taking the pH too far in the other direction. [6] X Research source
- Test the pH of the soil before and after adding other substances to keep track of changes in the acidity.
- You can purchase a soil testing kit at your local gardening supply store or plant nursery.
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Dig a hole roughly three times as wide as the root ball. Scoop out the loose soil on the site you tilled previously. The hole should be approximately the same depth as the nursery pot holding the plant. It’s not a good idea to seat the root ball any deeper, as the soil around it needs to stay oxygenated. [7] X Research source
- If necessary, measure the height of the nursery pot before digging the hole. The top of the root ball should be just about level with the uppermost layer of soil.
- Because of their intensive germination requirements, crepe myrtles headed for home gardens are almost always grown from saplings.
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Place the root ball inside the hole. Extract the crepe myrtle from its nursery pot and lower it into the hole. Be careful not to damage the roots or supple trunk in any way. Once you’ve got the tree in the ground, pack some of the loose soil around the base to hold it in place.
- Always handle saplings by their root balls, not by their trunks.
- Laying the nursery pot on its side may make it easier to remove the crepe myrtle without disturbing the delicate trunk or root system.
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Fill in the hole. Push the remaining soil in around the roots and trunk. Then, tamp it down lightly to anchor the tree. The soil should be compacted firmly enough to prevent shifting or erosion, but still loose enough to allow the roots to expand. [8] X Research source
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Plant multiple crepe myrtles in rows. Space the trees roughly 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m) apart to make sure they have plenty of room to reach out as they grow. Larger specimens like Muskogee and Natchez should have as much as 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) between them.
- Be sure to research the average size of the species you're planting so you'll know how much space you can expect it to take up. [9] X Research source
- If you're planting your crepe myrtles near a fenceline or retaining wall, make sure you leave at least 3 feet (0.91 m) of intervening space. This will prevent the growing trees from overtaking their surroundings.
- You can also plant double rows to create a privacy screen or wind cover. In this case, you'll want to stagger the rows so that they're offset and leave 3 feet (0.91 m) of space between each. [10] X Research source
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Mulch around the base of the tree. Spread 2 to 4 inches (7.6 to 12.7 cm) of rich hardwood mulch around the tree. A thick layer will help the roots hold moisture and discourage the growth of weeds, which can sap the trees nutrients.
- Leave about half a foot (0.15 m) of space between the mulch layer and the trunk. Piling on mulch too closely or too heavily can smother the roots and endanger the life of the tree.
- Apply 2-3 inches of new mulch each spring when the tree begins flowering.
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Water your crepe myrtle 1-5 times a week. Young crepe myrtles need a healthy drink at least once a week while they’re dormant and temperatures are cool, and up to five times a week in hot weather or especially dry soil. Continue on this watering schedule for the first two months. Afterward, go back to wetting them thoroughly once a week. [11] X Research source
- Water occasionally during periods of drought to keep your crepe myrtle thriving.
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Fertilize the tree once a month during the first year. Any slow-release organic fertilizer will work just fine—a well-balanced 10-10-10 mix is a popular choice with many gardeners. Apply the fertilizer to the soil liberally in early spring as soon as the first leaves start to appear. Following the first growing season, cut back to fertilizing once a year. [12] X Research source
- Lightly fertilizing established older trees every 2-3 weeks can help them produce healthy new growth.
- Crepe myrtles are well-suited for a variety of soil types, and don’t need to be fed as much as other trees of similar size. [13] X Research source
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Prune crepe myrtles late in the winter. Crepe myrtles are naturally shapely trees, and typically only call for light pruning. Cut away dead branches while the flowers are dormant to free up room for healthy new growth come spring. This is also a good time to remove lower limbs to help shape the tree as it develops and decrease its overall volume.
- Promote airflow around the trunk by trimming basal shoots, thick clusters of twigs, and intertwining branches.
- Avoid over-pruning (also commonly referred to as “crepe murder.”) Trimming too much growth at once can weaken the tree and leave it susceptible to damage and disease. [14] X Research source
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Keep an eye out for harmful pests. Crepe myrtles are a favorite of common garden pests like aphids and Japanese beetles. Ward off occasional invaders by spraying them with a mild insecticidal soap. In many cases, eliminating unwanted insects will also take care of a persistent mold problem. [15] X Research source
- Another option is to remove and relocate larger pests by hand whenever you come across them.
- If you're battling a full-fledged infestation, it may be necessary to have your crepe myrtles sprayed with an organic insecticide.
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Inspect your crepe myrtle regularly for signs of disease. Powdery mildew, black mold, and leaf spot are a few of the threats that crepe myrtles face once they begin flowering. In most cases, the effects these cause are harmless, and will clear up on their own in time. Positioning your trees where they can enjoy full sunlight and good air circulation and inspecting them frequently goes a long way in preventing disease. [16] X Research source
- Prune back trees afflicted by mold and mildew to increase the airflow around the trunk. Throw away any cut branches and disinfect your pruning tools before you use them again so the disease doesn't spread.
- Diseases that don't clear up on their own after a few weeks can often be knocked out with a commercial chemical fungicide like Daconil or Immunox. Be sure to follow the directions provided on the label of the product you’re using to avoid harming the tree. [17] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow can I revive my droopy and dry tree?Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.Water it when it’s dry. If you live in a dry environment, your tree may not be an appropriate choice. Crepe myrtles thrive in humid environments.
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QuestionMy crepe myrtle has foliage but it's not showing any buds. What can I do to get it to grow?Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.Your crepe myrtle is probably not getting enough sunlight. This tree requires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day to bloom. If the location isn’t meeting these requirements, your crepe myrtle isn’t going to bloom. Relocate them so they get more sunlight.
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QuestionAll the leaves on my young crepe myrtle are red. Is this normal?Community AnswerYes. There are many variations of color for crepe myrtle trees. Though not as common as the other mostly pink colors, a red color is nothing to worry about.
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Tips
- Dwarf crepe myrtles can be grown in individual containers, box planters, or even the same beds as your perennial flowers.Thanks
- Most varieties of crepe myrtles grow to be about 6–15 feet (1.8–4.6 m) tall, while some can reach heights of up to 25 feet (7.6 m). Be sure to take your spatial needs into consideration in order to find one that’s the right fit for your yard or garden.Thanks
- Look for cold hardy species if you live in an area that tends to experience harsh winters.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Crepe myrtle sapling
- Balanced fertilizer
- Organic amendment material
- Ground agricultural lime or sulfur soil (optional)
- Hardwood mulch
- Insecticide soap
- Organic insecticide
- Commercial fungicide spray
- Pea gravel
- Shovel
- Rake
- Hand trowel
- Pruning shears
References
- ↑ https://www.thetreecenter.com/how-to-plant-crape-myrtle-trees/
- ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/growing-crape-myrtles/
- ↑ https://www.thetreecenter.com/how-to-plant-crape-myrtle-trees/
- ↑ https://www.thetreecenter.com/how-to-plant-crape-myrtle-trees/
- ↑ https://www.thetreecenter.com/how-to-plant-crape-myrtle-trees/
- ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/growing-crape-myrtles/
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/how-to-plant-a-crepe-myrtle#how-to-plant-a-crepe-myrtle_2
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/how-to-plant-a-crepe-myrtle#how-to-plant-a-crepe-myrtle_2
- ↑ https://www.thetreecenter.com/crape-myrtle-varieties-and-guide/
- ↑ https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/blog/crape-myrtles-you-wont-believe-these-different-varieties/
- ↑ https://www.todayshomeowner.com/growing-crape-myrtles/
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/garden/grumpy-gardener/when-should-you-fertilize-crepe-myrtle
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/garden/grumpy-gardener/when-should-you-fertilize-crepe-myrtle
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/garden/grumpy-gardener/crepe-myrtle
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/crape-myrtle-diseases-insect-pests/
- ↑ https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/blog/crape-myrtle-problem-fix/
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/garden/grumpy-gardener/crepe-myrtle
About This Article
Article Summary
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To grow crepe myrtle, start by planting a crepe myrtle sapling in a sunny outdoor spot in late fall, winter, or early spring. When you plant your crepe myrtle, plant it in a hole that's 3 times as wide as the sapling's root ball. Next, spread a layer of hardwood mulch around the tree to help the soil retain moisture. Then, water your crepe myrtle once a week when temperatures are cool and up to 5 times a week during hot weather. For more tips from our Horticulture co-author, like how to prune and fertilize crepe myrtle, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "This is my first try for crepe myrtle. We saw them while vacationing and I just had to have one. I am in Missouri so I'm not sure if I can do it but I sure am going to try. Your information and care tips help tremendously. Thank you. I hope I can do this." ..." more
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"This is my first try for crepe myrtle. We saw them while vacationing and I just had to have one. I am in Missouri so I'm not sure if I can do it but I sure am going to try. Your information and care tips help tremendously. Thank you. I hope I can do this."
..."
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"This article was very helpful to me as a mum of an adult very high functioning Auti lad. We chose crepe myrtles to plant on our property. To find a clear concise, point-formed article that brings the facts, is perfect for him and for me. Thank you."
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"I want to plant a myrtle on my property, and I'm glad I read the article about the amount of direct sunlight that's required in order for the myrtle to flower. I may now need to reconsider where I locate it. Thanks for the information!"
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"Pruning and how to get more flowers by cutting off each dead flower was helpful. Also the pruning of the lower branches was extremely informative. Finding how to cut some branches that go towards middle of the tree."
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"I have a nine year old crepe myrtle tree that I needed some detailed advice on how to care for. I feel like I will now know when and how to properly prune it, as well as how to make it have more blooms. Thanks!"
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