homersapien
Newly Registered
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:57 pm
Location: Folsom, CA - zone 9

Crepe Myrtle question

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!

Newt
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Posts: 1868
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 10:44 pm
Location: Maryland zone 7

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

homersapien
Newly Registered
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:57 pm
Location: Folsom, CA - zone 9

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.... :D


Thanks again for the help!
Homer

Newt
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Posts: 1868
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 10:44 pm
Location: Maryland zone 7

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

homersapien
Newly Registered
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:57 pm
Location: Folsom, CA - zone 9

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

Newt
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1868
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 10:44 pm
Location: Maryland zone 7

This is an unusual year for temps due to the El Nino, but here's typical freeze and frost dates for California. Maybe that will help.
https://www.victoryseeds.com/frost/ca.html

Your local extension service might be helpful with that info as well.
https://ucanr.org/ce.cfm

Newt



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