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.

What if my crepe myrtle is too tall?

If your crape myrtle does become too tall for its location, you can prune the tree back to a more appropriate height- just don’t make this a regular practice each year. It will take a little more time to prune correctly, but you will end up with a beautiful tree.

How far do you cut back crepe myrtles?

Cut all the way back. I like branching to begin 6 to 8 feet off the ground because it looks better and is more practical. If you don’t need to walk under the branches or see through them to view oncoming traffic, you can allow the branching to start lower. Prune unwanted low branches all the way back to the main trunk.

What happens if you don’t cut back 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.

Can I prune a crepe myrtle in the summer?

Pruning crepe myrtles in summer is not the optimal time of year to trim your trees, unless you wait until after they bloom. Floridata notes that some cultivars continue to bloom for as long as 120 days, making this tree or large shrub a popular landscape plant.

Can I trim crepe myrtles in April?

Dormancy continues into March and sometimes April. By May, crape myrtles are showing new growth and beginning to set buds for flowers. Limit aesthetic pruning to March or early April, cutting only those branches that do not yet show new growth. Cutting new growth at this time decreases the summer’s flower production.

Should crepe myrtles be cut back every year?

Growing Conditions Also, crepe myrtles need minimal pruning. Some gardeners top them annually, but this ruins their natural shape and beauty. Remove the sucker growth that sometimes appears around the base. Only prune to shape trees or to take out any cross branching.

Can you cut back a crepe myrtle in the summer?

Can you prune crepe myrtles in April?

Spring Pruning Crepe Myrtle Trees Limit aesthetic pruning to March or early April, cutting only those branches that do not yet show new growth. Cutting new growth at this time decreases the summer’s flower production. If you didn’t remove them in February, go ahead and prune any broken, dead or diseased branches.

How do you prune a crape myrtle?

To prune a mature crepe myrtle, you’re going to need a few different types of pruning tools. Gather the following supplies from your garage or a hardware store before you get started: A hand pruner, for pruning small twigs and thin branches. Loppers, which are used to cut thicker branches that are higher up.

When should I prune my crape myrtle?

Crape myrtles should be pruned during the winter. Many people prune in late winter, from late February into early March. The important thing to remember is to prune crape myrtles right before new growth begins in the spring. A crape myrtle’s flower buds are produced on new growth.

When should crepe myrtles be pruned?

Pruning crepe myrtles is not a difficult task, as long as it is done at the proper time and with the proper tools. The ideal time to prune is late winter or early spring as the plant flowers on new growth. Pruning in December or November may cause the plant to start branching out before the winter is done.

When to trim back crepe myrtle trees?

February to March. Late winter or early spring, after the last frost, is usually the time to do any major pruning of crape myrtles.