Answer: The curling leaves are probably caused by lawn chemicals,
probably a phenoxy herbicide
. Phenoxy herbicides are frequently sprayed on lawns to control broadleaf weeds. When a small amount of this herbicide from careless spraying or drift gets on a plant like crape myrtle it causes this sort of leaf curling.
How often should you water your crepe myrtle?
To prevent the plant from dying, it must be watered
once a week
. Be sure to soak the entire root system deeply, this will take about 45-60 minutes. For best growth and production, crape myrtle should receive at least one inch of water a week. During dry spells, water is mandatory.
Can you overwater a crape myrtle tree?
Watering Issues
Crape myrtle trees need the most moisture in the soil profile when they are actively growing — when the plant displays leaves. … Overwatering crape myrtles in
spring and summer can diminish flowering
, since overly moist soil promotes leafy growth, not flower production.
How do you get rid of crepe myrtle offshoots?
Use pruning shears or anvil pruners
to snip off any seedlings or root sprouts that appear from beneath the plastic. If the crape myrtle seedlings or shoots appear in the lawn, simply mow over them every week. Eventually, any stored energy will be depleted and the remainder of the seeds will decompose.
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.
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 is the best fertilizer for crape myrtles?
Crape myrtles require large amounts of nitrogen to foster growth and produce the greatest number of flowers. The University of Georgia Extension suggests choosing an all-purpose garden fertilizer such as an
8-8-8 or 10-10-10 formulation
. A 12-4-8 or 16-4-8 formulation is also acceptable if applied at a lesser rate.
Why is my newly planted crepe myrtle dying?
Sometimes roots don't have enough room to spread out or didn't get enough water right after being planted. Whatever the case, trees
wear their heart on their sleeve
–or should we say their leaves. That's why you see those wilted, yellow or brown leaves.
How do I know if my crepe myrtle has too much water?
- The area around the tree is constantly wet.
- New growth withers before it's fully grown or becomes light green or yellow.
- Leaves appear green but are fragile and break easily.
How often should I fertilize my crepe myrtle tree?
Lightly fertilize
every two weeks throughout the spring and summer months
. This will promote optimal new growth. Remember, Crape Myrtles only bloom on new growth. For young plants (such as the one's you will receive from our nursery), lightly fertilize once a month during the first year's growing season.
How deep are the roots of a crepe myrtle?
The root system of the Crepe Myrtle tree is shallow and fibrous. The roots of this plant
do not grow deep in a taproot
system but in fact, these roots are weak and dense and only thrive near the surface. They extend up to three times the distance than the area covered by the plant canopy.
How do I stop my crepe myrtle from growing at the bottom?
Make a flush cut
. Do not leave a stub or several suckers will appear for every one you cut off. To prevent suckers from growing back so fast, treat the freshly cut spots with a product such as Monterey Sucker Stopper (some local nurseries may carry this, or you can order online).
Can I cut my crepe myrtle to the ground?
Crepe myrtles will grow back when cut, although
it isn't necessary to prune them all the way down to the ground
.
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 is wrong with my crepe myrtle?
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
.
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.
