Cut off the dead top and let the shoots grow
. They'll grow faster than a congressman's nose. Select 4-5 well-spaced ones to become the new main trunks and cut off the rest. Your crepe myrtle will grow back free-of-charge and may even bloom this summer.
How do you know when a crepe myrtle is dying?
Signs that your Crepe Myrtle is dying or dead
Crepe Myrtles
have thin bark, which you can scratch with your fingernail
. You can do this to check the health of your tree. Tree care professionals call this the “scratch test.” If the bark underneath is green, your tree is still alive.
Why is my crepe myrtle dying?
If you are seeing brown leaves on your crepe myrtle plant in the spring, it could be due to your area experiencing a cold snap. Crepe myrtle is not as tolerant of cold weather as many bushes are.
An untimely drop in temperature after the tender leaves have made their appearance can spell death for them
.
What is wrong with my crepe myrtle tree?
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica) are essentially trouble-free small trees. The most common problems include
powdery mildew, Cercospora leaf spot, aphids, Japanese beetles, and sooty mold
.
Will crape myrtle grow back?
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
.
What is the lifespan of a crepe myrtle?
Crepe myrtles live quite a few years if you take care of them. A crepe myrtle lifespan
can exceed 50 years
. So that's the answer to the question “how long do crepe myrtle trees live?” They can live a good, long time with suitable care.
What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?
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 kills 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.
Why is my crepe myrtle only growing from bottom?
A: These sprouts growing around the base of the crape myrtle are called suckers. If you leave them they will eventually become large making the tree have
more trunks than desired
. We would suggest limiting the crape myrtle to no more than five main trunks with three to five being acceptable.
Can crepe myrtle get too much water?
Crape Myrtle Water Requirements
Crepe myrtle likes a medium amount of water and prefers consistently moist soils where it can get it. … Be aware, however, that
too much watering
, especially if the soil is somewhat clayish and doesn't drain well, can lead to root rot and other plant diseases.
What animal eats crepe myrtles?
Goldfinches, dark-eyed juncos, house finches, cardinals, and house and white-throated sparrows
visit the trees continually from early December through late February to devour the abundant seed crop that crape myrtles provide.
How do I make my crepe myrtle bloom?
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. – Shade.
Do you prune crape myrtle trees?
Once established, crepe myrtles are remarkably drought-tolerant. And pruning a crepe myrtle is really simple.
Wait until the flowers have finished and then cut it back at least 30 centimetres
. … But if you don't want to prune, then just let the plant grow to its natural shape.
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.
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.
How far back can I cut my crepe myrtles?
Crape myrtles have the potential to be wonderful small trees if they aren't chopped to their knees annually. Luckily, crape myrtles are resilient and can tolerate the topping or shearing that some folks insist on giving them. Here are the downsides to pruning a crape myrtle back to an ugly
3- to 4-foot nub every year
.
