Hi,
I'm new to this forum and I have a question that I couldn't find answered by doing a search. I have several Crepe Myrtles that are being grown as shrubs. All of them have gotten very "leggy" or "woody" (not sure if these are the proper terms, but maybe you get the picture: the only leaves are way out at the end of the branches). Is there anything I can do to encourage more greenery? I'm inclined to hack them way back, but I'm guess that would be ill-advised. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Thank you!
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- Location: Folsom, CA - zone 9
Hi Homersapien,
Do you know if the crepe myrtles you have are the shrub form? If you have the tree form and are pruning to keep them small, then you will get the multiple sprouts. Here's some helpful info on crepe myrtle.
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1008.htm
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1009.htm
Newt
Do you know if the crepe myrtles you have are the shrub form? If you have the tree form and are pruning to keep them small, then you will get the multiple sprouts. Here's some helpful info on crepe myrtle.
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1008.htm
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1009.htm
Newt
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Thanks for the reply. I finally dug up my landscape plans to confirm what I have: "Lagerstroemia Indica Bush Purple". From the links you sent, that appears to be the most common type in the US.
In the links you sent, this was the most helpful statement:
Severe pruning will not kill or injure a healthy crape myrtle.
I hope winter is the best time to do some severe pruning, 'cuz here I go....
Thanks again for the help!
Homer
In the links you sent, this was the most helpful statement:
Severe pruning will not kill or injure a healthy crape myrtle.
I hope winter is the best time to do some severe pruning, 'cuz here I go....
Thanks again for the help!
Homer
Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but I've been having some computer problems. You don't say where you live, but late winter is usually the best time to prune. If you live in a zone that gets hard freezes, you could experience dieback from a hard freeze if pruning now produces any new growth. The new growth wouldn't have time to harden off before the freeze. I'd suggest waiting until late February or sometime in March, depending on your hardiness zone.
Newt
Newt
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I'm in zone 9 in Northern California. We dip below freezing now and then in the winter but just barely. The perplexing thing about pruning here is that new growth on many of my plants tend to show up in January or February, so I don't want to wait too long but there *is* always the possibilty of a freeze if doing it too soon. (In fact, I cut back my roses a week ago and noticed they were already budding). I guess it wouldn't hurt to wait a month or so on the Crepes.
Thanks again for the advice.
-Homer
Thanks again for the advice.
-Homer