Are crepe myrtle trees messy?

Having championed crepe myrtle as the top ornamental tree for the South for so long, I am conflicted. Yes, I love crepe myrtles. And yes, they can be very messy. Take a look at my front porch.

Does crepe myrtle make a mess?

The Crepe Myrtle is a great addition to any yard. It is easy to care for, drought resistant, cold resistant and deer resistant. It is not a messy tree, provides shade, and is beautiful during all seasons of the year. It is the Summer Flowering Tree of California.

Are crepe myrtle trees high maintenance?

Crape myrtle is a relatively low-maintenance choice for landscaping in the appropriate region, but they do require some specific care for their showy blooms to flourish. To help your crape myrtle look its very best… Crape myrtle needs full sun (6 or more hours per day) to thrive.

What are the cons of crepe myrtles?

Be Aware Of Issues Facing Crape Myrtles

One of the main reasons people don't plant Crape Myrtles is because they can bring pests, especially spiders, into your yard. Southern Living explains: “As soon as crepe myrtle leaves unfurl, look for aphids. Their sugary excretions causes sooty mold.

How far should a crepe myrtle be from the house?

Plant large type crape myrtles a minimum of 6ft away from a structure (house, etc). To create a look where the canopies of the plants will grow together and provide shade, plant Medium Crape Myrtles 6'-10' apart, and Standard (Tree) Crape Myrtles 8'-12' apart.

Why aren't my Crape Myrtles blooming?

Do crape myrtles have invasive roots?

Crepe myrtle trees are lovely, delicate trees offering bright, spectacular flowers in the summer and beautiful fall color when the weather begins to chill. But are crepe myrtle roots invasive enough to cause problems? You don't have to worry about this issue because crepe myrtle tree roots are not invasive.

Are crape myrtles invasive?

Lagerstroemia indica (Crape Myrtle) is listed in the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States. This species as been widely cultivated as an ornamental and has become naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

How close to a fence can you plant a crepe myrtle?

If you are planting against a fence, plant at least three feet from the fence, not right up against it, or your plants will not be bushy right to the ground. For a more solid screen you can even plant a double row, staggering the plants in each row.

Do crepe myrtles drop their leaves?

Since the crepe myrtle is a deciduous tree, it sheds all its leaves in the winter, leaving behind the beautiful bark on the tree, which makes it a prized tree in many yards.

Which crape myrtle is the best?

Natchez is recognized as the top performing crape myrtle in the southeastern United States. It was introduced by the U. S. National Arboretum in 1987. White flowers and exfoliating bark are characteristic of this cultivar, which reaches heights of 30 feet at maturity.

What happens if you don't prune crepe myrtles?

Leaving it alone will result in a pretty raggedy-looking tree, and it won't grow as quickly either. The new growth will emerge on its own from the fresh cuts, and if you trim at just the right point, you'll encourage way more blooms to appear.

How fast do crape myrtle trees grow?

Growth Rate

This shrub grows at a fast rate, with height increases of more than 24" per year.

Should crepe myrtle trees be cut back?

First of all, pruning crapemyrtles is optional; if the plant is in the correct place and can grow to its mature size, let it grow! If you need to prune your crapemyrtle tree or shrub, thinning branches to limb up the crapemyrtle is the correct method. Remove lower limbs that are thinner than a pencil diameter.

Where is the best place to plant crepe myrtles?

Crape Myrtles can be grown all over the USA, in any soil type. The site should be in the bright, hot sun: full or partial sun (6hrs min). No heavy shade for Crape Myrtles. If the site gets sun for part of the day then it's fine.

Where do crape myrtles grow best?

Climate: Crape myrtles can be grown in hardiness zones 6-10, although in zone 6 they're likely to die back to the ground in winter. Water: Crape myrtles like humid climates. Once established, they can tolerate quite a bit of drought. Light: Crape myrtles flower best in full sun (at least six hours per day).

Are Natchez crepe myrtles messy?

Having championed crepe myrtle as the top ornamental tree for the South for so long, I am conflicted. Yes, I love crepe myrtles. And yes, they can be very messy. Take a look at my front porch.

How do Crepe Myrtles look in the winter?

The crepe myrtle in winter will have no leaves. They are deciduous shrubs, so their leaves change color and eventually die and fall off in autumn.

Is crape myrtle evergreen?

Crape myrtles are a group of deciduous trees and shrubs, while wax myrtles include evergreen and semi-evergreen shrubs and trees. Evergreen wax myrtle foliage does not change color in the fall and the leaves emit a fragrance when crushed.

Can crape myrtle survive winter?

Most crape myrtle varieties are winter hardy to zone 7, which corresponds to a minimum winter temperature of 0° to 10° F. Depending on where you live in Ohio, you may be in zone 5 or 6, where crape myrtles will need some winter protection in order to survive.

When should crape myrtles be planted?

Balled and burlapped plants have stricter requirements when it comes to planting times, as do bare-root crape myrtles. Plant these during the dormant season, sometime between late fall and early spring.

Can you plant two crape myrtles together?

One characteristic of crape myrtle that can be enjoyed is the graceful branching habit. A way to diminish this characteristic is to plant too closely together and planting too closely together inhibits air circulation (which is helpful in fending off disease) and makes the landscape appear cluttered.

Is a crepe myrtle a bush?

Crape myrtle bushes (Lagerstroemia indica) are attractive varieties of multi-stemmed flowering shrubs with showy red, white, pink or purple flowers. Crape myrtle shrubs flower in summer, turning the large bushes into colorful floral displays that attract birds and pollinators.

Do hummingbirds feed on crepe myrtles?

Hummingbirds like to feed from flowering shrubs that include azaleas, rhododendron, crape myrtle, weigela, rose of Sharon and butterfly bush. Coral bells, garden phlox, delphinium, hollyhocks, columbine, dianthus, hostas, perennial hibiscus and day lilies are also tasty treats.

How big do crepe myrtle trees get?

Not only do they differ in bloom and leaf color, but also in mature size. Dwarf varieties only grow to a height of 4 feet or less. Semi-Dwarf varieties grow 4 to 8 feet tall. Large or Tree Crapemyrtle reaches a height of 10 to 20 feet.

Can you keep a crepe myrtle small?

The methods of pruning dwarf crape myrtle range from easy to not at all. For starters, the plants really don't require pruning - they have a slower growth rate than their larger growing cousins and usually have a good natural form all on their own. That said, I usually do at least a light annual pruning on mine.