Crape myrtles don't need pruning when young, except perhaps to remove unwanted suckers or crossing branches. Seed pods also do not need to be removed. I hope you're not referring to the brutal topping seen all too often that's referred to as "crape murder." Some people now assume because they see this practice at shopping malls and restaurants it is actually a good thing for the trees. While it does promote more blooming in the very short tun, in the long or even not-so-long run it will kill the tree...and certainly make it look idiotic in the winter. An unpruned, suitably sited, and well-selected crape myrtle, besides being a lot easier to take care of, will look good in four seasons. Their elegant branch structure and exfoliating bark is magnificent when allowed to develop properly. So the answer is: save your trees and your time by simply NOT pruning! This is what we see all too commonly, but is NOT good practice (aka "Crape Murder"):

Are they getting more shade from trees nearby growing taller? Do you, or your neighbor, fertilize your lawns(s)? Most lawn fertilizer is high in Nitrogen, and will push leaves instead of flowers. Aside from those two probable causes, I can't think of another right now. You can TRY to fertilize with a fertilizer for flowering plants, with a low N (first) number, but if they are getting too much shade, there's not a whole lot that will do to help. While CMs do OK with little or no water, especially older ones, they do better with water, so maybe getting supplemental water to them might help. Of course, if you are under water restrictions, that's no use....

We have a 'white chocolate' and it is such a trooper! First, it had frost damage, so I carefully trimmed off the damage. Then, the JB's devoured it and I just took the hedge trimmer to it to cut off the damage and tried to give it a decent form in spite of the wreck it was in. Right now, in 103 degree heat in the middle of my full sun southern-exposed open meadow, the little thing is BLOOMING gorgeous white blooms! Cameron

I bought from them. I have very mixed emotions about it. The owner is 100% unresponsive. I spoke with a lady named Emily, who did help me replace 12 plants that didn't come back. I ordered the bulk package in November, which was probably too late. When they didn't come back, I emailed a billion times with no result. (I hate to talk on the phone.) When I finally called and got someone (October, the following year, she got me organized with replacements. A few of them have come back. Probably 6 have not. Ironically, I'm not dissatisfied with my experience because she was so quick to do what she needed to do. The fact that some didn't return I figure was the luck of the draw so late in the year. I have not contacted them to see if they'll replace those that didn't come back a 2nd time, since I doubt they will. I also don't care that much, since I can try rooting cuttings when they're a tiny bit larger. And no, their color reports are as subjective as any one else's. If you haven't seen one yourself, I've learned I won't buy it -- unless they claim it's white. My idea of red seems to mean dark pink (Victor and Tonto) to many other people. My idea of purple or magenta seems to mean lilac (Catawba) to others as well. Tuscaroara seems to be the one true agreement in that it's a beautiful watermelon color. Remember, just because you haven't heard of a 6'' CM doesn't mean someone hasn't developed one. I just today bought a 'White Chocolate, which has burgundy foliage and (hopefully) white blossoms. I would have told you CMs didn't come with that color leaf. Now I'm just looking for a 'Burgundy Cotton' to compliment it! Christine