Trimming of crepe myrtles to bloom again
stevoreno
16 years ago
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stevoreno
16 years agojeff_al
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Pruning Crepe Myrtle for Rebloom
Comments (1)Yes, you can often get a second flush of blooms on your crApe myrtles if you remove the newly spent flowers or developing seedpods (fruit). You'll need to prune before the fruit is mature. Prune back only enough to remove the developing fruit. The second batch of blooms will be less spectacular than the first....See MoreCrepe Myrtle won't bloom.
Comments (7)OP, you may be over-watering; I never water my mature crepes, even in extended heat waves. Anne B, I always think of pruning a crepe myrtle as similar to plucking one's eyebrows; you never never remove anything from the top. Google "crepe (or crape) murder" & you'll find hideous examples of the amputated look that crepes develop when they're lopped from the top. Big crepe myrtles, except the weeping forms, should look like a well-proportioned umbrella, with one or more trunks or "handles", topped by a big round mound of foliage & flowers. Here's how I shape mine: First, remove crossing limbs before they grow thicker & abrade each other. Next, remove "water spouts", odd branches that shoot straight up-I mean vertically, straight up!-from an existing branch, & suckers that sprout at the base. Then stand back & squinch up your eyes, & if the bottom of the "umbrella" of foliage looks like it's too close to the ground, gradually remove lower limbs. Remember, you can always go back & take off more, but once you take it off you cannot put it back....See Moretrimming crepe myrtles
Comments (20)Rodney, just cut off the tips where the flowers are (or were). They should re-bloom on the new growth they will put out there. I just did one of mine today. The other one is still blooming so I'll wait a few days for that one. I'm fortunate that mine are almost immune to powdery mildew. Last summer one of my very large crepe myrtles had a bad case of mildew. It was actually touching one of the dwarfs, but the little guy never got sick. I personally prefer to trim. Flower production is better and I think they look much neater with the annual shaping. However, not all cultivars will look good shaped as trees. I have 2 Acomas that have semi-pendulous growth habit, so I only tip-prune and tidy-up these....See MoreQuestion about Crepe Myrtles
Comments (12)That is a great spot for a good focal point. While I am really fond of the Acoma Crepe Myrtle (It has a growth pattern that gives it almost an oriental look), I would consider an Anacacho Orchid. It is a very hardy, care-free native that blooms twice per year, spring and fall. The tree itself is beautiful, and the blooms smell great. Next to the door, that would be a great benefit. I think it looks best as a small tree and will grow to about 10 feet or so. It is not very commonly used, so it would be a great conversation piece, as well. If you are set on a shrub, try Grecian Pattern Plant, if you can get it. It stands out well on its own as a shrub for a focal point. The foliage is beautiful, and it has a whitish spike bloom that is just stunning. If you use this one, keep an eye on it in the summer heat to make sure it isn't getting scorched. Treating occasionally with Liquid Seaweed can help. Another option would be to use Agave. Again, they are great at standing out in a bed, and they are very low maintenance. With your existing landscape I would recommend one of the smaller varieties, but the Blue Agave would look great, so long as you don't mind it having it removed and replaced with a younger specimen every five or six years. I would recommend staying away from any of the hedge-type shrubs, as they will tend to either blend in with the existing hedge or look like they were planted mistakenly. On the subject of crepe myrtles, I definitely recommend pruning them, so long as you are pruning selectively from the bottom up, and not 'topping' or pruning from the top down. While it is fine to prune off the old seed heads at the end of the season, hacking the tops off can open them up to problems in the future. If you start with a variety that only gets to the height that you want, you should never have to top them. Happy Planting! Jeff Rodgers Blue Collar Gardeners Here is a link that might be useful: Blue Collar Gardeners Podcast...See Morekatrina1
16 years agostevoreno
16 years agoDonna
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16 years agoquirkyquercus
16 years agokatrina1
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16 years agostevoreno
16 years ago
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